@article{ref1,
title="What is self-harm?",
journal="Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening",
year="2009",
author="Sommerfeldt, Bente and Skårderud, Finn",
volume="129",
number="8",
pages="754-758",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The aim with this article is to provide an introduction to self-harm as a clinical phenomenon, with phenomenological descriptions and definitions, and by presenting risk factors, epidemiological data and functions of self-harm. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The basis for the article is a non-systematic literature search of the electronic databases Medline, PsychInfo and EMBASE (1985 - 2008). and our own archive of literature on self-harm. RESULTS: There is some evidence for an increase in the prevalence of self-harm. Among possible risk factors are childhood abuse, abandonment, neglect, trauma and separation, and the affective quality of the attachment bonds in childhood. A common factor is self-harm as a bodily practice for affect regulation, and as such, it can be understood as a dysfunctional competence. INTERPRETATION: To search for understanding of self-harm in individual, familiar and cultural contexts contributes to meet individuals with such tendencies with empathy and beneficial interventions.<p /> <p>Language: no</p>",
language="no",
issn="0029-2001",
doi="10.4045/tidsskr.08.0454",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.08.0454"
}