How often, or how many ways: clarifying the relationship between non-suicidal self-injury and suicidality.
This study clarified the association of maladaptive, potentially self-damaging behaviors with suicidality. Specifically, we examined whether greater frequency (i.e., how often) or greater versatility (i.e., how many ways) of several self-damaging behaviors, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), substance use, and disordered eating, increased risk for suicide. Participants who engaged in NSSI (N = 142) completed questionnaires assessing suicidal and self-damaging behavior at baseline and engagement in suicidal behaviors (e.g., ideation, attempts, talking about suicide) 3 months later. Results suggest that the versatility rather than frequency of self-damaging behaviors is most robustly associated with suicide risk. Engaging in multiple methods of NSSI and using a greater number of illicit substances were positively associated with suicide risk. Further, versatility of NSSI interacted with depression to predict suicide risk at 3-month follow-up such that highly depressed participants who engaged in more methods of NSSI exhibited highest risk, whereas those who engaged in more methods with low depression exhibited the lowest risk.
a Department of Psychology , Simon Fraser University , Burnaby , British Columbia , Canada.
Brianna J
BJ
Turner
Brianne K
BK
Layden
Sean M
SM
Butler
Alexander L
AL
Chapman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult