title: The prevalence of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in a representative sample of the German population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a proposed new "condition for further study" in the DSM-5. To date no prevalence data has been available on this diagnostic entity from a representative sample of the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of the German population (N = 2509, mean age = 48.8 years, SD = 18.1, female 55.4 %) completed the NSSI section of the German version of the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI-G).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A history of NSSI at least once during lifetime was reported by 3.1 % of all participants, with higher lifetime prevalence rates in younger age groups. DSM-5 NSSI disorder criteria were met by 0.3 %. The most common function of NSSI was automatic negative reinforcement (e.g. to alleviate negative feelings).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting rates for the proposed NSSI category in DSM-5 from a representative sample of the general population. In comparison to findings from community samples of adolescents, adults seem to have lower lifetime prevalence rates of NSSI, thus making it necessary to emphasize prevention and treatment efforts in younger age groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstr. 5, 89075, Ulm, Germany. paul.plener@uniklinik-ulm.de.
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Plener
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstr. 5, 89075, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allroggen
authors.affiliation: Department for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Nestor D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Kapusta
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.|Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brähler
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstr. 5, 89075, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fegert
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstr. 5, 89075, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Rebecca C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Groschwitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Germany; NSSI; Nonsuicidal Self-Injury; Self-harm; Self-injury