… Search

Self-harm
Article Talk

… … …

Self-harm is intentional behavior that is

considered harmful to oneself. This is most
commonly regarded as direct injury of one's own
skin tissues usually without a suicidal intention.[1]
[2][3]
Other terms such as cutting, self-injury
and self-mutilation have been used for any self-
harming behavior regardless of suicidal intent.[2]
[4][5][6]
It is not the same as masochism, as no
sexual or nonsexual pleasure is obtained. The
most common form of self-harm is using a sharp
object to cut the skin. Other forms include
scratching, hitting, or burning body parts. While
earlier usage included interfering with wound
healing, excessive skin-picking, hair-pulling, and
the ingestion of toxins,[2][7][8] current usage
distinguishes these behaviors from self-harm.
Likewise, tissue damage from drug abuse or
eating disorders is not considered self-harm
because it is ordinarily an unintended side-effect
but context may be needed as intent for such
acts varies.[9]

Self-harm

Other names Deliberate self-harm

(DSH), self-injury (SI),
self-poisoning,
nonsuicidal self-injury
(NSSI), cutting

Healed scars on the forearm from prior self-harm

Specialty Psychiatry

Although self-harm is by definition non-suicidal, it

may still be life-threatening.[10] People who do
self-harm are more likely to die by suicide,[3][7]
and self-harm is found in 40–60% of suicides.[11]
Still, only a minority of self-harmers are suicidal.
[12][13]

The desire to self-harm is a common symptom of

some personality disorders. People with other
mental disorders may also self-harm, including
those with depression, anxiety disorders,
substance abuse, mood disorders, eating
disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder,
schizophrenia, dissociative disorders and gender
dysphoria. Studies also provide strong support
for a self-punishment function, and modest
evidence for anti-dissociation, interpersonal-
influence, anti-suicide, sensation-seeking, and
interpersonal boundaries functions.[2] Self-harm
can also occur in high-functioning individuals
who have no underlying mental health diagnosis.
[9]
The motivations for self-harm vary.[14] Some
use it as a coping mechanism to provide
temporary relief of intense feelings such as
anxiety, depression, stress, emotional numbness,
or a sense of failure.[15] Self-harm is often
associated with a history of trauma, including
emotional and sexual abuse.[16][17] There are a
number of different methods that can be used to
treat self-harm and which concentrate on either
treating the underlying causes or on treating the
behavior itself. Other approaches involve
avoidance techniques, which focus on keeping
the individual occupied with other activities, or
replacing the act of self-harm with safer methods
that do not lead to permanent damage.[18]

Self-harm is most common between the ages of

12 and 24.[1][8][9][19][20] Self-harm in childhood is
relatively rare, but the rate has been increasing
since the 1980s.[21] Self-harm can also occur in
the elderly population.[22] The risk of serious
injury and suicide is higher in older people who
self-harm.[20] Captive animals, such as birds and
monkeys, are also known to participate in self-
harming behavior.[23]

Classification

Signs and symptoms

Cause

Pathophysiology

Treatment

Epidemiology

History

Awareness and opposition

Other animals

See also

References

External links

Last edited 12 days ago by Hardyplants

Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless

otherwise noted.

Terms of Use • Privacy policy • Desktop