2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / Peer responses... Peer responses to self-injury Mentor/s: Imke Baetens 2023 - 2024 Project Overview By exploring the impact of self-injury on peers to whom the behavior has been disclosed we will be closer to understanding peer disclosure reactions, and using this understanding to develop resources for people who self-injure and their peers. This research proposal targets university students who know someone who self-injures (whether this has been voluntary disclosed or not). Quantitative data has been collected at multiple sites (i.e., Belgium, Canada, USA and Australia) through online surveys. Datasets are available using quantitative measures. The junior researcher could contribute by taking the lead in data analyses and contribute to updating the literature review on this subject. Application Deadline: June 11 2023 Apply Now Previous Next

Malika, creator of Selfharmerproblems YouTube and Instagram pages, shares her story of lived experience of self-injury and self-harm. Season 1 | Episode 8 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 8 Lived Experience of Self-Injury: Malika's Story Mar 12, 2021 Lived Experience of Self-Injury: Malika's Story 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Malika details her experience of disclosing her self-injury to her parents as a teenager, seeking treatment, and how she decided to start Selfharmerproblems Instagram and YouTube pages. Follow her on Instagram and YouTube , and visit her new website at www.selfharmerproblems.org . To watch all her YouTube videos about her lived experience of self-harm, click here . Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). Previous Next

Kirsty from New Zealand shares her story of lived experience of self-injury and how her experiences inform her work in advocating for, and instilling hope in, others with similar stories of self-harm. Season 2 | Episode 30 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 30 Lived Experience: Kirsty's Story of Self-Injury & Advocacy Oct 28, 2022 Lived Experience: Kirsty's Story of Self-Injury & Advocacy 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Kirsty Moore details her experience of engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) beginning at age 14 and into her 30's. She discusses her training in psychology and how she integrates research on NSSI with her lived experience of self-harm as a form of advocacy when conducting workshops on NSSI for the community. Connect with Dr. Kirsty on Instagram at @dr_kirsty_coaching . Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their " Best 20 Clinical Psychology Podcasts " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts ." Previous Next

Christina Beck, a screenwriter, director, and actress discusses her film "PERFECTION" and what inspired her to create a film in which the protagonist engages in self-injury and self-harm. Season 2 | Episode 26 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 26 Self-Injury in Film: "PERFECTION" the Movie Jun 30, 2022 with Actor & Director Christina Beck Self-Injury in Film: "PERFECTION" the Movie with Actor & Director Christina Beck 00:00 / 01:04 Every screenwriter and film director is different and each has their own intentions and motivations, but what goes into the writing of characters who engage in self-injury and self-harm? How are such films inspired, and how do writers and directors choose to frame self-injury content? In this episode, screenwriter, director, and actress Christina Beck discusses her independent feature film "PERFECTION" and what inspired the characters and content of the film. This episode was recorded as a live virtual session held during the 17th annual ISSS Conference on June 24, 2022. To watch PERFECTION (for free), visit perfectionthemovie.wordpress.com and click on "Watch PERFECTION NOW !" Download the movie's free companion workbook here . Please note that some content in the film could be upsetting or triggering, including depictions of self-injury, substance use, and brief flashbacks that allude to sexual abuse. Christina is also a film professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. You can follow her on Twitter at @xtinabeck and Facebook at www.facebook.com/perfectionfilm . To review the Media Guidelines for the Responsible Reporting and Depicting of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, click here . You can also visit www.itriples.org/media-guidelines to read the original ISSS white paper and its accompanied infographic. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their " Best 20 Clinical Psychology Podcasts " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts ." Previous Next

Kathryn Gordon, PhD, from Fargo, North Dakota discusses the relationship between disordered eating and self-harm, how often they co-occur, why they co-occur, and physical pain sensitivity amidst eating disorder behavior and self-injury. Season 2 | Episode 22 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 22 Eating Disorders & Self-Harm Feb 25, 2022 with Dr. Katie Gordon Eating Disorders & Self-Harm with Dr. Katie Gordon 00:00 / 01:04 The term "self-harm" is an umbrella term, encompassing a broad range of behaviors, under which is included substance abuse and misuse, suicide, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and even eating disorders. In this episode, Dr. Katie Gordon, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Fargo, North Dakota, discusses the prevalence of self-injury among individuals with eating disorders and the prevalence of eating disorders among those who self-injure. She explains the relationship between the two behaviors, including common risk factors. Learn more about Dr. Gordon and her work on her website at https://kathrynhgordon.com/ . Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @DrKathrynGordon . You can purchase her book The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook: CBT Skills to Reduce Emotional Pain, Increase Hope, and Prevent Suicide on Amazon here . Below are links to some of Dr. Gordon's research as well as resources referenced in this episode: Kiekens, G., & Claes, L. (2020). Non-suicidal self-injury and eating disordered behaviors: An update on what we do and do not know . Current Psychiatry Reports, 22 (68). Fox, K. R., Wang, S. B., Boccagno, C., Haynos, A. F., Kleiman, E., & Hooley, J. M. (2019). Comparing self-harming intentions underlying eating disordered behaviors and NSSI: Evidence that distinctions are less clear than assumed . International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52 (5), 564-575. Smith, A. R., et al. (2013). Exercise caution: Over-exercise is associated with suicidality among individuals with disordered eating . Psychiatry Research, 206 (2-3), 246-255. Gordon, K. H., Perez, M., & Joiner, T. E. (2002). The impact of racial stereotypes on eating disorder recognition . International Journal of Eating Disorders, 32 (2), 219-224. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their " Best 20 Clinical Psychology Podcasts " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts ." Previous Next

Taylor Burke, PhD, from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital discusses the psychological effects of scars resulting from self-injury and self-harm. Season 2 | Episode 31 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 31 The Psychology of Self-Injury Scarring Nov 25, 2022 with Dr. Taylor Burke The Psychology of Self-Injury Scarring with Dr. Taylor Burke 00:00 / 01:04 How are scars from nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) different than physical scars that are unintentional or result from non-self-inflicted wounds ? What psychological effects can result from daily reminders of one's own decision to self-harm? Is there an association between NSSI scars and suicidal thoughts and behaviors? In this episode, Dr. Burke discusses the mixed relationship that many people who self-injure have with the scars they bear from NSSI and how some may feel the need to hide their scars even from themselves. Learn more about Dr. Burke and her work by clicking here or visiting the Mood & Behavior Lab (MABL) at www.moodandbehaviorlab.org . Follow her on Twitter @TaylorABurkePhD . Below are some of her publications and papers referenced in this episode: Burke, T. A., Ammerman, B. A., Hamilton, J. L., Stange, J. P., & Piccirillo, M. (2020). Nonsuicidal self-injury scar concealment from the self and others . Journal of Psychiatric Research, 130 , 313-320. Burke, T. A., Olino, T. M., & Alloy, L. B. (2017). Initial psychometric validation of the nonsuicidal self-injury scar cognition scale . Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 39 , 546–562. Burke, T. A., Hamilton, J. L., Cohen, J. N., Stange, J. P., & Alloy, L. B. (2016). Identifying a physical indicator of suicide risk: non-suicidal self-injury scars predict suicidal ideation and suicide attempts . Comprehensive Psychiatry, 65 , 79–87. Bachtelle, S. E., & Pepper, C. M. (2015). The physical results of nonsuicidal self-injury: The meaning behind the scars . The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 203 (12), 927-933. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their " Best 20 Clinical Psychology Podcasts " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts ." Previous Next

ISSS Rising Stars About /Awards / ISSS Rising Stars Recognizing Potential ISSS Rising Stars are dedicated early-career researchers, clinicians, or advocates whose work demonstrates potential and commitment to make a significant contribution to the field and to the lives of people with lived experience. 2023 Rising Star Read more Dr Kathryn Fox Dr Fox is an Assistant Professor in the clinical child psychology Ph.D. Program at the University of Denver, where she also directs the Fox Lab in the Department of Psychology. Rising Stars of ISSS 2021 Dr. Sarah Victor Dr. Victor is a clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University (United States) where she leads the Tracking Risk Over Time Lab (TRTL). Read more...

About Self-Injury Treatments for Self-Injury Resources / About Self-Injury / Treatments for Self-Injury "It must be person-centred" "Treatment" and "recovery" can mean different things to different people. In general, "treatment" refers to physical (e.g., wound care) and psychological (e.g., DBT) interventions that help people who are self-injuring. Generally, the goal of psychological treatments is to reduce NSSI by targeting the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that underlie an individual's self-injury. Until recently, few treatments were developed specifically for self-injury. Although there is currently no “gold-standard” treatment for self-injury, several treatments show promise in helping people decrease or stop these behaviors (Calvo et al., 2022; Turner et al., 2014), although the efficacy of treatments is still unclear (Fox et al., 2020). Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) DBT is a psychotherapeutic treatment designed to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), of which NSSI is a common behaviour (Linehan, 1993). It was modified by Miller et al. (2007) to reduce NSSI and suicidality among adolescents, and has shown efficacy to reduce NSSI in multiple studies (Fleischhaker et al., 2011; Pistorello et al., 2012, Stanley et al., 2007). DBT is an intensive treatment lasting 6 months to 2 years and involves weekly individual therapy, group-based skills training, and between-session coaching. DBT integrates behavioral strategies (e.g., behavior analysis, problem-solving strategies, skills training in emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness, contingency management) with mindfulness (e.g., nonjudgmental, present-focused attention), and dialectical strategies (e.g., balancing acceptance and change) to reduce self-injury by: Improving emotion regulation Increasing behavioral control Strengthening positive identity Improving interpersonal skills It is important to note that some research shows that DBT is not superior to other treatments in reducing self-injury (e.g., Katz et al., 2004, Nock et al., 2007). Emotion Regulation Group Therapy (ERGT) ERGT was developed as an alternative to DBT, offering a briefer treatment period including 14 weeks of group-based psychotherapy. Unlike DBT, which is intended to treat NSSI in combination with other challenges facing people living with BPD, ERGT focuses solely on NSSI. It integrates components of DBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ERGT treats NSSI in several ways: Increasing awareness, understanding, and acceptance of emotions. By learning more about emotions and how to recognise them, individuals are better equipped to cope with emotional experiences. Improving emotional control and tolerance. Individuals learn how to better control the intensity and duration of their emotions, and develop greater tolerance of uncomfortable emotional experiences. Facilitating behavioral control. Individuals learn how to enact goal-directed behaviors and inhibit impulsive behaviors in response to negative emotions. ERGT was designed as an adjunctive treatment, meaning it is best used in conjunction with, rather than instead of, other types of treatment (such as individual psychotherapy). Several well-designed studies have shown that ERGT is effective in reducing self-injury in adult women living with BPD. A recent feasibility study also suggests that ERGT may be effective in adolescent girls engaging in NSSI. Importantly, research on ERGT has been limited to studies on women; more research is needed to determine whether ERGT is equally effective for men. ERGT was also recently adapted to an individual setting for adolescents (ERIT-A; Bjureberg et al., 2017). An open trial investigating the online delivery of ERIT-A showed a reduction in NSSI, which was strengthened at 3-month follow up, and maintained at 6-month follow-up (Bjureberg et al., 2018). Treatment for Self-Injurious Behaviors (T-SIB) T-SIB is a brief, nine-session intervention conducted weekly on an individual basis (Andover et al., 2017). Designed for young adults engaging in NSSI, T-SIB uses motivational enhancement strategies, functional analysis, and skills training for problem-solving, distress tolerance, cognitive distortions, and interpersonal communication to address self-injury. An initial pilot study of T-SIB found decreased self-injury over the course of treatment; however, further research is needed to see if T-SIB will be effective in other groups of people and to compare T-SIB to other treatments that address self-injury. References Andover, M. S., Schatten, H. T., Morris, B. W., Holman, C. S., & Miller, I. W. (2017). An intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury in young adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 85 , 620–631. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000206 Bjureberg, J., Sahlin, H., Hellner, C., Hedman-Lagerlöf, E., Gratz, K. L., Bjärehed, J., Jokinen, J., Tull, M. T., & Ljótsson, B. (2017). Emotion regulation individual therapy for adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury disorder: A feasibility study. BMC Psychiatry , 17 , Article 411. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1527-4 Bjureberg, J., Sahlin, H., Hedman-Lagerlöf, E., Gratz, K. L., Tull, M. T., Jokinen, J., Hellner, C., & Ljótsson, B. (2018). Extending research on Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (ERITA) with nonsuicidal self-injury disorder: Open pilot trial and mediation analysis of a novel online version. BMC Psychiatry , 18 , Article 326. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1885-6 Calvo, N., Sara García-González, S., Perez-Galbarro, C., Regales-Peco, C., Lugo-Marin, J., Ramos-Quiroga, J.- A., & Ferrer, M. (2022). Psychotherapeutic interventions specifically developed for NSSI in adolescence: A systematic review. European Neuropsychopharmacology , 58 , 86-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.02.009 Fleischhaker, C., Böhme, R., Sixt, B., Brück, C., Schneider, C., & Schulz, E. (2011). Dialectical behavioral therapy for adolescents (DBT-A): A clinical trial for patients with suicidal and self-injurious behavior and borderline symptoms with a one-year follow-up. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health , 5 , Article 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1753-2000-5-3 Fox, K. R., Huang, X., Guzmán, E. M., Funsch, K. M., Cha, C. B., Ribeiro, J. D., & Franklin, J. C. (2020). Interventions for suicide and self-injury: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials across nearly 50 years of research. Psychological Bulletin , 146 , 1117-1145. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000305 Katz, L. Y., Cox, B. J., Gunasekara, S., & Miller, A. L. (2004). Feasibility of dialectical behavior therapy for suicidal adolescent inpatients. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , 43 , 276-282. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200403000-00008 Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder . Guilford. Miller, A. L., Rathaus, J. H., & Linehan, M. M. (2007). Dialectical behavior therapy with suicidal adolescents . Guilford. Nock, M. K., Teper, R., & Hollander, M. (2007). Psychological treatment of self-injury among adolescents. Journal of Clinical Psychology , 63 , 1081-1089. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20415 Pistorello, J., Fruzzetti, A. E., MacLane, C., Gallop, R., & Iverson, K. M. (2012). Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) applied to college students: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 80 , 982–994. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029096 Stanley, B., Brodsky, B., Nelson, J. D., & Dulit, R. (2007). Brief dialectical behavior therapy (DBT-B) for suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-injury. Archives of Suicide Research , 11 , 337-341. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811110701542069 Turner, B. J., Austin, S. B., & Chapman, A. L. (2014). Treating nonsuicidal self-injury: A systematic review of psychological and pharmacological interventions. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry , 59 , 576-585. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F070674371405901103

Nicholas J. Westers, Psy.D., ABPP from Children's Health and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas provides practical tips and considerations for supporting individuals who engage in self-injury and self-harm. Season 4 | Episode 51 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 51 Tips for Supporting Those Who Self-Harm Jul 26, 2024 with Dr. Nicholas Westers Tips for Supporting Those Who Self-Harm with Dr. Nicholas Westers 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, host and producer of The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast, Dr. Nicholas Westers, shares his own thoughts about what we should consider when supporting friends, families, clients, and patients who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). This marks the first solo episode of the podcast, and Dr. Westers offers ways for listeners to have a bigger role on the podcast, including: Should you or someone you know be interviewed on the podcast? We want to know! Please fill out this Google doc form, and we will be in touch with more details if it’s a good fit. Want to hear your question and have it answered on the podcast? Please send an audio clip of your question (60 seconds or less) to @DocWesters on Instagram or Twitter/X, or email us at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.com Want to be involved in research? Send us a message at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.com and we will see if we can match you to an active study. Want to interact with us through comments and polls? You can on Spotify! Below are a couple papers related to this episode with Dr. Westers: Westers, N. J., Rehfuss, M., Olson, L., & Biron, D. (2012). The role of forgiveness in adolescents who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury . The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200 (6), 535-541. Westers, N. J. , & Tinsley, B. (2023). Nonsuicidal self-injury risk assessment, intervention, and guidance for first responders and medical settings . In E. E. Lloyd-Richardson, I. Baetens, & J. Whitlock (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury (pp. 873–893). Oxford University Press. Previous Next

Janis Whitlock, PhD, from Cornell University and Senior Advisor for The JED Foundation explains what parents and caregivers should look for if they suspect their child is engaging in self-injury. She also discusses how caregivers can effectively talk to their child about self-injury and self-harm and when to seek therapy. Season 1 | Episode 3 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 3 Parenting Youth Who Self-Injure Jan 1, 2021 with Dr. Janis Whitlock Parenting Youth Who Self-Injure with Dr. Janis Whitlock 00:00 / 01:04 If you suspect that your child might be engaging in self-injury, how do you start the conversation and how often should you check in with your child so that you are not being too invasive? How can parents safely set rules if they fear their child might self-injure in response to these rules? In this episode, we answer these questions and more as we talk about how parents and loved ones can foster healing for their children who self-injure or self-harm as well as for themselves. Dr. Whitlock’s book “Healing Self-Injury: A Compassionate Guide for Parents and Other Loved Ones” is available on Amazon ( www.amazon.com/Healing-Self-Injury-Compassionate-Guide-Parents/dp/0199391602 ). Dr. Whitlock is a Research Scientist in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell University and the founder and director of the Self-Injury & Recovery Resources (SIRR) research program, which serves as one of the best and most comprehensive collations of online resources about self-injury: www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu . It is a go-to resource for parents, therapists, friends, family members, schools, other caring adults, the media, and individuals with lived experience of self-injury. Follow them on Instagram @cornell_crpsir. Dr. Whitlock is also Senior Advisor for The JED Foundation . To learn more about The JED Foundation, visit https://www.jedfoundation.org/ . Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). Previous Next

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / NSSI and STB Prediction Proximal mechanisms of NSSI predicting suicide thoughts and behaviors Mentor/s: Jennifer Muehlenkamp 2024 - 2025 Project Overview Affiliation: University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Project description: Very little is known about the short-term temporal course of NSSI in relation to suicidal behavior, and information about possible mechanisms that facilitate, or reduce, transition to suicidal behavior among those engaging in NSSI is sparse. This project aims to provide data filling gaps in the suicide research by conducting a micro-longitudinal study of transdiagnostic processes believed to interact with and influence risk for suicidal behavior conferred by NSSI. Using the Integrative-Motivational-Volitional (IMV) theory of suicide as a guide, the current study proposes that variability in sleep quality and emotional reactivity will interact with self-perceptions and perceived social connectedness to influence NSSI features and mechanisms of risk to predict near-term, acute, change in suicidal behavior. Young adults reporting current NSSI and suicidal ideation will wear actigraph watches (to obtain sleep data) and complete daily diary assessments of the study variables along with weekly lab-based assessment for 4 weeks, and complete 1- and 2-month follow-ups. Multi-level modeling analyses will examine the moderating effects of sleep and emotional reactivity on the proposed risk-processes to influence NSSI and suicidal behaviors over days, weeks, and months. The results will provide novel and essential information to the field of suicidology by advancing current knowledge about acute risk for suicide and have potential to significantly impact clinical practice by identifying specific, modifiable markers of risk that can translate into clinical targets for assessment and intervention strategies. Applicants should have the following skills: Multi-level modeling /SEM / longitudinal data analytic statistical knowledge, scientific writing experience Junior researcher responsibilities: Assist with data analysis and write up of manuscript; Can conceptualize own research question/project from existing data and co-create a manuscript Anticipated outcome(s) for junior researcher: Peer-reviewed manuscript, Conference presentation(s) Time commitment: Approximately 1 day per week for 4-6 months Application Deadline: June 1, 2024 Apply Now

Local Chapters Collaboration / Local Chapters Local Collaborations with a Mission The ISSS Local Chapters is a new collaboration initiative fostering local connections within our international organization. The goal of these chapters is to facilitate local collaboration on research, clinical practice, reflection, and advocacy. Through these Chapters, we aim to promote innovation and impact through diverse connections that lead to improvements in the lives of those who have lived/living experience of self-injury. Below you can find active ISSS Local Chapters. If you don't see one in your area, consider starting one! Head to our contact form to let us know you are interested. Location Lead Contact Scandinavia Philip Ulstrup Hartvig phart@regionsjaelland.dk