Citation

Masi G, Milone A, Montesanto AR, Valente E, Pisano S. J. Affect. Disord. 2017; 227: 477-482.

Affiliation

Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Salerno, Italy. Electronic address: pisano.simone@gmail.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2017.11.049

PMID

29156361

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Non suicidal self-injuries (NSSIs) are deliberate self-harm behaviors without suicidal intent, usually starting in adolescence, with increasing rates of occurrence both in epidemiological and clinical samples. Several studies associated cyclothymic-hypersensitive temperament (CHT) with self-harm behaviors and suicidal risk. Aim of this study is to explore the association between NSSIs and CHT in a clinical sample of adolescents. We hypothesized that CHT may differentiate NSSI from non-NSSI adolescents with mood disorders, when other psychopathological features are controlled for.

METHODS: A consecutive sample of 89 adolescents with mood disorders were assessed for presence and phenomenology of NSSIs, CHT, demographics, comorbid categorical psychiatric diagnoses, dimensional psychopathology, impairment and previous suicide attempts.

RESULTS: NSSIs were reported in 52% of the sample, with higher rates in females and in bipolar disorder. Regression analyses showed that CHT, but not age, gender, bipolar vs depression diagnosis, functional impairment, was associated with NSSIs.

DISCUSSION: CHT may be in close association with NSSIs in adolescents with mood disorders. An assessment of CHT in adolescents referred for mood disorder may help to detect specific psychological features of NSSIs, which may improve diagnostic and treatment strategies. LIMITATIONS: Given the cross-sectional design, a developmental relation between CHT and NSSIs cannot be determined. The small sample size and the selection bias of severely impaired patients limit the generalization of the results. More sophisticated measures of CHT may consent to explore other dimensions of the cyclothymic construct (i.e., emotional intensity, emotional reactivity, emotional stability, positive vs. negative emotions, interpersonal sensitivity, impulsivity).

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescents; Cyclothymic-hypersensitive temperament; Mood disorders; Non suicidal self-injuries