[What is self-harm?].
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Poliklinikk for spiseforstyrrelser, Oslo universitetssykehus, Aker 0320 Oslo. bsommerfeldt@gmail.com
Bente
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Sommerfeldt
Finn
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Skårderud
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002652:Child Behavior; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data