title: Non-suicidal self-injury in Mexican young adults: Prevalence, associations with suicidal behavior and psychiatric disorders, and DSM-5 proposed diagnostic criteria.
abstract: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) may lead to scarring, infection, accidental death and psychological distress. Little is known about NSSI in the general population of young adults in developing countries like Mexico. The current study examined the prevalence of any NSSI and each type of NSSI, the prevalence of meeting DSM-5 proposed criteria, and finally the association of NSSI with socio-demographic variables, suicidal behavior and psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  
  This study was conducted in a community sample of 1071 young adults between 19 and 26 years of age residents of Mexico City.
  
  
  
  The lifetime prevalence of NSSI was 18.56% with females having 87% greater odds. The 12-month prevalence was 3.19%. Only 0.22% of the total sample and 6.96% of those that self-injured in the past 12 months met full criteria proposed by DSM-5, in part due to the lack of reported impairment; 39.99% of those that self-injured reported impairment. Suicidal behavior commonly co-occurred with NSSI. All lifetime anxiety, mood, disruptive behavior and substance use disorders were associated with greater risk for lifetime NSSI whereas only 12-month depression and substance use disorder was associated with greater risk of 12-month NSSI.
  
  
  
  The cross-sectional nature of the study precludes conclusions of causality and directionality and the study excluded institutionalized and homeless young adults.
  
  
  
  NSSI is a concerning problem in young adults from Mexico City due to the important associations with all types of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behavior. Because many who self-injure do not perceive impairment, they are unlikely to seek treatment.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico. Electronic address: cbenjet@imp.edu.mx.
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benjet
authors.affiliation: Humboldt State University, California, USA.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: González-Herrera
authors.affiliation: National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Everardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castro-Silva
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Méndez
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Medina-Mora
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Mexico; NSSI; Non-suicidal self-injury; Young adults