Citation

Buelens T, Luyckx K, Bogaerts A, Raymaekers K, Claes L. J. Affect. Disord. 2023; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.134

PMID

37690540

Abstract

BACKGROUND: With the introduction of non-suicidal self-injury disorder (NSSI-D) in DSM-5, the field obtained a standardised set of criteria to study those engaging in more severe and chronic NSSI. To date, no previous research has studied the development of NSSI-D longitudinally, leaving questions on its stability and potential prospective predictors unanswered.

METHODS: 2162 community adolescents (M = 15.00 years, SD = 1.88, 53.9 % girls at T1) completed a set of self-report questionnaires for three consecutive years and were classified into three severity-based NSSI subgroups (no-NSSI, subthreshold-NSSI, NSSI-D). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to prospectively predict subgroup membership by age, gender, identity development, depressive symptoms, traumatic experiences, and resilience.

RESULTS: At baseline, the sample was distributed over the no-NSSI group (88 %), the subthreshold-NSSI (6 %) and NSSI-D (6 %) groups. These groups respectively showed high (93.5 %), low (25 %) and moderate (47.5 %) stability over one-year intervals. Longitudinally, higher levels of identity confusion and trauma significantly increased the likelihood of transitioning to subthreshold-NSSI. Moreover, boys had a higher likelihood of transitioning from NSSI-D to no-NSSI over the course of one year.

CONCLUSIONS: This three-year study provides the first indication of the longitudinal course of NSSI-D with the current set of DSM-5 criteria. Clinically, the results suggest the particular potential of identity confusion and trauma as prevention targets in community adolescents.

Language: en

Keywords

Longitudinal; Adolescence; DSM-5; Non-suicidal self-injury disorder