title: A critical review of explanatory models for self-mutilating behaviors in adolescents.
abstract: The present paper presents critical reviews of studies that have explored models of adolescent self-mutilation. Current definitional problems were addressed, as well as a proposal for a classification system of self-mutilation. Seven historically significant explanatory models were included, the sexual/sadomachistic model, the depersonalization model, the interpersonal/systemic model, the suicide model, the physiological/biological model, the affect regulation model, and the behavioral/environmental model. Each model was briefly described, and studies were critiqued according to methodology, research design, and basis upon which authors provided support or rejection of a model. Suggestions for improvement in the literature were made throughout the paper. Studies often overlapped within the models, and the strongest empirical support was shown for the behavioral/environmental model, which included components of the affect regulation model, interpersonal/systemic model, and depersonalization model. Explaining adolescent self-mutilation is a complex task, and evidence provided in this paper suggests that aspects of several models, or an integration of models, likely contribute to the understanding of this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, 1124 Life Sciences Building, 53 Campus Drive, PO Box 6040, Morgantown, WV 26505-6040, United States. Electronic address: Julia.Messer@mail.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Messer
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, 1124 Life Sciences Building, 53 Campus Drive, PO Box 6040, Morgantown, WV 26505-6040, United States.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Fremouw
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003861:Depersonalization / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015995:Prevalence; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012107:Research Design / Q000639:trends; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology