TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2009//
TI  - What is self-harm?
JO  - Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening
A1  - Sommerfeldt, Bente
A1  - Skårderud, Finn
SP  - 754
EP  - 758
VL  - 129
IS  - 8
N2  - 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>
LA  - no
SN  - 0029-2001
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.08.0454
ID  - ref1
ER  -