TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Getting "clean" from nonsuicidal self-injury: experiences of addiction on the subreddit r/selfharm
JO  - Journal of behavioral addictions
A1  - Himelein-Wachowiak, McKenzie
A1  - Giorgi, Salvatore
A1  - Kwarteng, Amy
A1  - Schriefer, Destiny
A1  - Smitterberg, Chase
A1  - Yadeta, Kenna
A1  - Bragard, Elise
A1  - Devoto, Amanda
A1  - Ungar, Lyle
A1  - Curtis, Brenda
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND & AIMS: Previous studies have shown that nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has addictive features, and an addiction model of NSSI has been considered. Addictive features have been associated with severity of NSSI and adverse psychological experiences. Yet, there is debate over the extent to which NSSI and substance use disorders (SUDs) are similar experientially. <br><br>METHODS: To evaluate the extent that people who self-injure experience NSSI like an addiction, we coded the posts of users of the subreddit r/selfharm (n = 500) for each of 11 DSM-5 SUD criteria adapted to NSSI. <br><br>RESULTS: A majority (76.8%) of users endorsed at least two adapted SUD criteria in their posts, indicative of mild, moderate, or severe addiction. The most frequently endorsed criteria were urges or cravings (67.6%), escalating severity or tolerance (46.7%), and NSSI that is particularly hazardous. User-level addictive features positively predicted number of methods used for NSSI, number of psychiatric disorders, and particularly hazardous NSSI, but not suicidality. We also observed frequent use of language and concepts common in SUD recovery circles like Alcoholics Anonymous. <br><br>DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: Our findings support previous work describing the addiction potential of NSSI and associating addictive features with clinical severity. These results suggest that NSSI and SUD may share experiential similarities, which has implications for the treatment of NSSI. We also contribute to a growing body of work that uses social media as a window into the subjective experiences of stigmatized populations.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2062-5871
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1556/2006.2022.00005
ID  - ref1
ER  -