title: Associations between self-harm and distinct types of impulsivity.
abstract: There is an ongoing debate regarding how self-harm should be classified. The aim of this study was to characterize associations between self-harm and impulsivity.
  
  
  
  Total 333 adults (mean [SD] age 22.6 (3.6) years, 61% male) were recruited from the general community. History of self-harm was quantified using the Self-Harm Inventory (SHI), which asks about 22 self-harm behaviors. Principal components analysis was used to identify latent dimensions of self-harming behaviors. Relationships between self-harm dimensions and other measures were characterized using ordinary least squares regression.
  
  
  
  Principal Components Analysis yielded a three factor solution, corresponding to self-injurious self-harm (e.g. cutting, overdoses, burning), interpersonal related self-harm (e.g. engaging in emotionally or sexually abusive relationships), and reckless self-harm (e.g. losing one's job deliberately, driving recklessly, abusing alcohol). Regression modelling showed that all three dimensions of self-harm were associated with lower quality of life.
  
  
  
  This study suggests the existence of three distinct subtypes or 'latent factors' of self-harm: all three appear clinically important in that they are linked with worse quality of life. Clinicians should screen for impulse control disorders in people with self-harm, especially when it is self-injurious or involves interpersonal harm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK; Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Redden
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago. Electronic address: jongrant@uchicago.edu.
authors.forename: Jon E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cognition; Impulsive; Impulsivity; Suicidality