Search Results

Lindsay Taliaferro, PhD, from the University of Central Florida discusses the prevalence of self-injury among individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ); common risk and protective factors; and the intersectionality of race, sexual minority status, and gender diversity among those who self-injure and self-harm. Season 1 | Episode 15 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 15 Self-Injury Among LGBTQ Individuals Jul 2, 2021 with Dr. Lindsay Taliaferro Self-Injury Among LGBTQ Individuals with Dr. Lindsay Taliaferro 00:00 / 01:04 Why is it important to talk about nonsuicidal self-injury among LGBTQ individuals? Just how prevalent is self-injury among those who identify as LGBTQ? And are there differences in rates of self-injury among sexual minority individuals (e.g., Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual) compared to those that are Transgender or Gender Diverse? In this episode, Dr. Lindsay Taliaferro discusses risk and protective factors for engaging in self-injury among LGBTQ individuals. She also tackles the intersectionality of race, sexual minority status, and gender diversity among those who self-injure and self-harm. Below are links to some of her research and the resources referenced in this episode: Rogers, M. L., & Taliaferro, L. A. (2020). Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors among sexual and gender minority youth: A systematic review of recent research . Current Sexual Health Reports, 12 , 335–350. Taliaferro, L. A., McMorris, B. J., Rider, G. N., & Eisenberg, M. E. (2019). Risk and protective factors for self-harm in a population-based sample of transgender youth . Archives of Suicide Research, 23 (2), 203-221. Taliaferro, L. A., McMorris, B. J., & Eisenberg, M. E. (2018). Connections that moderate risk of non-suicidal self-injury among transgender and gender non-conforming youth . Psychiatry Research, 268 , 65-67. GLSEN's National School Climate Survey (2019) . Hatch Youth - the Montrose Center in Houston: https://www.montrosecenter.org/hatch-youth/ The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ 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 " Top 15 Clinical Psychology Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts of 2021 ." Previous Next

Drs. Greg Lengel, Maria Zetterqvist, Amy Brausch, and Jason Washburn explain why they now advocate for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm to be considered a clinical specifier rather than a disorder in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Season 5 | Episode 64 Podcast/ Season 5 | Episode 64 DSM Update: Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder, or a Clinical Specifier? Aug 29, 2025 DSM Update: Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder, or a Clinical Specifier? 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, four of the top experts in researching and treating nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) talk about the research behind NSSI Disorder, the evolution of how they now think about NSSI within the context of the DSM, and why they now advocate for an NSSI specifier rather than an NSSI Disorder in the DSM. They also delineate their proposed criteria for self-harm as a specifier and both the positive and negative consequences of doing so. Below are papers referenced in this episode: Lengel, G. J., Muehlenkamp, J. J., Zetterqvist, M., Ammerman, B. A., Brausch, A. M., & Washburn, J. J. (2025). Non-suicidal self-injury: proposal to shift designation from disorder to a clinical specifier . The Lancet Psychiatry . Online advanced publication. Shaffer, D., & Jacobson, C. (2009). Proposal to the DSM-V childhood disorder and mood disorder work groups to include non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as a DSM-V disorder . American Psychiatric Association , 1-21. Muehlenkamp, J. J. (2005). Self-injurious behavior as a separate clinical syndrome . American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75 (2), 324–333. Brausch, A. (2019). Diagnostic classification of nonsuicidal self-injury . In J. J. Washburn (Ed.), Nonsuicidal self-injury: Advances in research and practice (pp. 71-87). Routledge. NONSUICIDAL SELF-INJURY SPECIFIER (PROPOSED CRITERIA): A. The specifier should be used when the nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior is characterized by the following: The individual intentionally engages in NSSI behavior to inflict bodily damage or pain The individual's NSSI behavior is recent, such that it occurred at least once during the past month The individual’s NSSI behavior is repetitive, such that it occurred on about 5 or more days in an individual’s lifetime Note: culturally specific NSSI behavior (e.g., piercings and tattoos) and harm that is habitual (e.g., scab picking, nail biting, and hair pulling) should not be considered to be NSSI unless the behavior is explicitly for the purposes of causing damage or pain to one’s body. The NSSI specifier can still be applied if the behavior occurs under the influence of substances, as long as the behavior meets the required features. Coding note: use code Z91.52 for individuals with a previous history of NSSI when all criteria except for recency are met (A2). Previous Next

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / Cognitive and emotional flexibility... Cognitive and emotional flexibility in youth with NSSI Mentor/s: Tina In-Albon 2023 - 2024 Project Overview The most common function of NSSI is emotion regulation. However, the differentiation between adaptive and maladaptive strategies is overly simplistic. More recent approaches focus on psychological flexibility, which is seen as an important determinant of mental health and well-being. More specifically, the present project will investigate behavioral, cognitive, and emotion regulation flexibility as well as its associations in youth with NSSI. Behavioral flexibility refers to the adaptive change of behavior in response to changing environmental contengenies. Cognitive flexibility, which refers to the ability to adapt responses/strategies based on environmental feedback. Emotion regulation flexibility refers according to Aldao et al. (2015) as “the degree of covariation between variation in the use of one or more emotional regulation strategies across a number of environments, while the environment might consist of external events or appraisals of emotional reactions to such events.” So, there are two core elements to emotional flexibility, sensitivity to situational demands and the ability to regulate emotions accordingly. Details will be discussed. Application Deadline: June 11 2023 Apply Now Previous Next

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / Meta-analysis: NSSI and other... Meta-analysis examining co-occurrence of NSSI with “externalizing” behaviours and disorders Mentor/s: Briana Turner 2023 - 2024 Project Overview My graduate students and I began a meta-analysis examining co-occurrence of NSSI and “externalizing” behaviours and disorders in 2017 and worked on this through 2020; although article extraction and coding were underway, due to parental and family leaves of the Principal Investigator, the literature review now needs to be re-updated, and the coding and analyses remain to be completed. If a junior researcher with experience in meta-analysis was willing to assist our team in refreshing our review and analyzing the data, we would be thrilled to work with them and share what we have learned so far! Application Deadline: June 11 2023 Apply Now 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 2024 Dr. Taylor Burke Dr. Burke is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (United States). She also co-leads the Mood and Behavior Lab (MABL) at Harvard Medical School. Read more...

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / NSSI and other coping... Examining predictors of co-occurrence of NSSI with other potentially harmful coping behaviours Mentor/s: Briana Turner 2023 - 2024 Project Overview We collected prospective, monthly surveys from two cohorts of first year university students (n=704). A core aim of this study was to examine trajectories and co-occurrence of potentially harmful coping behaviours, including NSSI, during students’ first year of university. We administered a broad range of personality measures at baseline, in September (e.g., Ten Item Personality Inventory, BIS/BAS, Sensitivity to punishment and sensitivity to reward, UPPS-P impulsivity, DERS) as well as behavioral measures of decision-making. Subsequently, we collected information about participants’ mood, wellbeing, and engagement in various potentially harmful coping behaviours, namely NSSI, disordered eating, substance misuse, physical aggression, and financial risk-taking (compulsive shopping, gambling). Over the upcoming year, I intend to analyze co-occurrence of these behaviors over the year, as well as personality and behavioral predictors of distinct profiles of coping behaviors. I would welcome junior researchers to be involved in this project to refine skills in longitudinal data analysis. Application Deadline: June 11 2023 Apply Now 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 2023 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. Read more...

Greg Lengel, PhD, from Drake University in Iowa walks us through self-harm in the DSM-5 and the six criteria for the proposed diagnosis of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder. Season 4 | Episode 45 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 45 DSM-5 & Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder Jan 26, 2024 with Dr. Greg Lengel DSM-5 & Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder with Dr. Greg Lengel 00:00 / 01:04 In 2013, the 5th edition of the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was released, and for the first time it included Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder as a Condition for Further Study. It is not an actual diagnosis at this time, but there are currently six criteria listed (see below, bottom of page). In this episode, Dr. Greg Lengel from Drake University in Iowa walks us through what research says about each of the six criteria, and he discusses the pros and cons of formalizing NSSI Disorder as a diagnosis. Listen to his interview with Dr. Brooke Ammerman from Season 3 ("How Should Self-Harm Be Defined?") here . Learn more about Dr. Lengel at his faculty profile at Drake University here and follow him on Twitter/X at @DrGregLengel . Below are links to many of the papers discussed in this episode as well as other important papers on NSSI as a disorder in the DSM-5: Shaffer, D., & Jacobson, C. (2009). Proposal to the DSM-V childhood disorder and mood disorder work groups to include non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as a DSM-V disorder . American Psychiatric Association , 1-21. Lengel, G. J., Ammerman, B. A., & Washburn, J. J. (2023). NSSI in the DSM-5 . In E. E. Lloyd-Richardson, I. Baetens, & J. Whitlock (Vol. Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury . New York: Oxford University Press . Lengel, G. J., Ammerman, B. A., & Washburn, J. J. (2022). Clarifying the definition of nonsuicidal self-injury: Clinician and researcher perspectives . Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 43 , 119-126. Lengel, G. J. & Mullins-Sweatt, S. N. (2013). Nonsuicidal self-injury disorder: Clinician and expert ratings . Psychiatry Research , 210 , 940-944. Ammerman, B. A., Jacobucci, R., Kleiman, E. M., Muehlenkamp, J. J., & McCloskey, M. S. (2017). Development and validation of empirically derived frequency criteria for NSSI disorder using exploratory data mining . Psychological Assessment , 29 , 221-231. Ammerman, B. A., Jacobucci, R., & McCloskey, M. S. (2019). Reconsidering important outcomes of the nonsuicidal self‐injury disorder diagnostic criterion A . Journal of Clinical Psychology , 75 , 1084-1097. Ammerman, B. A., Lengel, G. J, & Washburn J. J. (2021). Consideration of clinician and researcher opinions on the parameters of nonsuicidal self-injury disorder diagnostic criteria . Psychiatry Research, 296 , 113642. Ghinea, D., Edinger, A., Parzer, P., Koenig, J., Resch, F., & Kaess, M. (2020). Non-suicidal self-injury disorder as a stand-alone diagnosis in a consecutive help-seeking sample of adolescents . Journal of Affective Disorders, 274 , 1122-1125. Muehlenkamp, J. J. (2005). Self-injurious behavior as a separate clinical syndrome . American Journal of Orthopsychiatry , 75 , 324–333. Muehlenkamp, J. J., Brausch, A. M., & Washburn, J. J. (2017). How much is enough? Examining frequency criteria for NSSI disorder in adolescent inpatients . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 85 , 611619. Washburn, J. J., Potthoff, L. M., Juzwin, K. R., & Styer, D. M. (2015). Assessing DSM-5 nonsuicidal self-injury disorder in a clinical sample . Psychological Assessment, 27 , 31-41. Zetterqvist, M. (2015). The DSM-5 diagnosis of nonsuicidal self-injury disorder: A review of the empirical literature . Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 9 , 31. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter/X (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter/X (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #1 by Feedspot in their list of " 10 Best Self Harm Podcasts " and #5 in their " 20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts ." It has also been featured in Audible's " Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal ." If you or someone you know should be interviewed on the podcast, we want to know! Please fill out this form, and we will be in touch with more details if it’s a good fit. NONSUICIDAL SELF-INJURY DISORDER (PROPOSED DIAGNOSIS): A. In the last year, the individual has, on 5 or more days, engaged in intentional self-inflicted damage to the surface of his or her body of a sort likely to induce bleeding, bruising, or pain (e.g., cutting, burning, stabbing, hitting, excessive rubbing), with the expectation that the injury will lead to only minor or moderate physical harm (i.e., there is no suicidal intent). Note: The absence of suicidal intent has either been stated by the individual or can be inferred by the individual's repeated engagement in a behavior that the individual knows, or has learned, is not likely to result in death. B. The individual engages in the self-injurious behavior with one or more of the following expectations: To obtain relief from a negative feeling or cognitive state. To resolve an interpersonal difficulty. To induce a positive feeling state. Note: The desired relief or response is experienced during or shortly after the self-injury, and the individual may display patterns of behavior suggesting a dependence on repeatedly engaging in it. C. The intentional self-injury is associated with at least one of the following: Interpersonal difficulties or negative feelings or thoughts, such as depression, anxiety, tension, anger, generalized distress, or self-criticism, occurring in the period immediately prior to the self-injurious act. Prior to engaging in the act, a period of preoccupation with the intended behavior that is difficult to control. Thinking about self-injury that occurs frequently, even when it is not acted upon. D. The behavior is not socially sanctioned (e.g., body piercing, tattooing, part of a religious or cultural ritual) and is not restricted to picking a scab or nail biting. E. The behavior or its consequences cause clinically significant distress or interference in interpersonal, academic, or other important areas of functioning. F. The behavior does not occur exclusively during psychotic episodes, delirium, substance intoxication, or substance withdrawal. In individuals with a neurodevelopmental disorder, the behavior is not part of a pattern of repetitive stereotypies. The behavior is not better explained by another mental disorder or medical condition (e.g., psychotic disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, stereotypic movement disorder with self-injury, trichotillomania [hair-pulling disorder], excoriation [skin-picking] disorder). Previous Next

Kim Gratz, PhD, and Matthew Tull, PhD, from the University of Toledo walk us through Emotion Regulation Group Therapy (ERGT) intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm. Season 3 | Episode 34 Podcast/ Season 3 | Episode 34 Emotion Regulation Group Therapy for Self-Harm Feb 24, 2023 with Dr. Kim Gratz and Dr. Matthew Tull Emotion Regulation Group Therapy for Self-Harm with Dr. Kim Gratz and Dr. Matthew Tull 00:00 / 01:04 A lot of therapies address the context in which nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and self-harm may occur, but only a few treatments have been designed to address NSSI specifically. In this episode, we dive into one of these treatments: Emotion Regulation Group Therapy (ERGT). Drs. Kim Gratz and Matthew Tull from the University of Toledo in Ohio walk us through in significant detail each of the 90-minute 14 sessions of ERGT. Learn more about Dr. Gratz here and reach her at klgratz28@gmail.com . Learn more about Dr. Tull here and follow him on Twitter @MTTull . Learn more about the Personality and Emotion Research and Treatment (PERT) Laboratory within the Department of Psychology at the University of Toledo here , and follow the PERT Lab on Twitter @LabPert . Below are links to their research on ERGT referenced in this episode: Gratz, K. L., & Gunderson, J. G. (2006). Preliminary data on an acceptance-based emotion regulation group intervention for deliberate self-harm among women with Borderline Personality Disorder . Behavior Therapy, 37 (1), 25-35. Gratz, K. L., & Tull, M. T. (2011). Extending research on the utility of an adjunctive emotion regulation group therapy for deliberate self-harm among women with borderline personality pathology . Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 2 (4), 316–326. Gratz, K. L., Tull, M. T., & Levy, R. (2014). Randomized controlled trial and uncontrolled 9-month follow-up of an adjunctive emotion regulation group therapy for deliberate self-harm among women with borderline personality disorde r. Psychological Medicine, 44 , 2099–2112. Gratz, K. L., Bardeen, J. R., Levy, R., Dixon-Gordon, K., L., & Tull, M. T. (2015). Mechanisms of change in an emotion regulation group therapy for deliberate self-harm among women with borderline personality disorder . Behaviour Research and Therapy, 65 , 29-35. Sahlin, H., Bjureberg, J., Gratz, K. L., Tull, M. T., Hedman, E., Bjarehed, J., Jokinen, J., Lundh, L., Ljotsson, B., & Hellner, C. (2017). Emotion regulation group therapy for deliberate self-harm: A multi-site evaluation in routine care using an uncontrolled open trial design . BMJ Open, 7 (10), e016220. 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

Home / Awards / Invited Fellow / Dr. Barent W. Walsh Dr. Barent W. Walsh Previous Dr. Barent (Barry) Walsh is a Clinical Social Worker , educator, and one of the earliest and most influential figures in the study and treatment of self-injury. Author of Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide , a foundational text for clinicians, Dr. Walsh has trained thousands of professionals in compassionate, evidence-based care. His decades of work have profoundly shaped the clinical understanding of self-injury, emphasizing empathy, validation, and therapeutic skill. Dr. Walsh continues to consult and teach internationally, bridging the gap between research and frontline practice. He is widely admired for his humility, generosity, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those with lived experience of NSSI. For many, Barry is a symbol of a true science-based clinician. He epitomizes the spirit of collaboration, approachability, and friendship that is a hallmark of ISSS. Next ISSS Fellow | 2021

Home / Awards / Invited Fellow / Dr. James J. Gross Dr. James J. Gross Previous Dr. James J. Gross is the Ernest R. Hilgard Professor of Psychology at Stanford University (United States), where he directs the Stanford Center for Affective Science and the Stanford Psychophysiology Laboratory . A pioneer in emotion regulation, he has published over 650 works cited more than 250,000 times, shaping research across psychology and neuroscience. Dr. Gross is also an award-winning teacher and mentor, recognized with Stanford’s highest teaching honor, multiple mentoring awards, and national mentorship prizes. He has received research honors from the APA, the Society for Psychophysiological Research, the Social and Affective Neuroscience Society, and the Grawemeyer Award, as well as honorary doctorates from institutions in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong. He is co-founding President of the Society for Affective Science, Founding Co-Editor-in-Chief of Affective Science , and a Fellow of multiple leading scientific organizations. Known for his intellectual rigor and transformative impact, Dr. Gross continues to advance the science of emotion while inspiring students, colleagues, and the global research community. Next ISSS Fellow | 2026

Home / Awards / Invited Fellow / Dr. Jennifer L. Hughes Dr. Jennifer L. Hughes Previous Dr. Jennifer L. Hughes is a Psychologist and Clinical Scholar in Behavioral Health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University (United States), with appointments in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health and in the College of Public Health. Her research focuses on developing, testing, and disseminating evidence-based interventions to prevent and treat depression and suicide in children and adolescents. She is a co-developer of Relapse Prevention CBT for youth depression and the family-based SAFETY program for suicidal youth. Dr. Hughes is also an international trainer for the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program, implementing school-based suicide prevention programs in the U.S., Australia, and India. She has held leadership roles in the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and the American Psychological Association (APA), and she contributes to the NIMH ASPIRES Center for Accelerating Suicide Prevention in Real-world Settings. Dr. Hughes is recognized for her innovative work bridging research, clinical care, and community-based prevention, with a focus on building resilience and improving outcomes for youth at risk. Next ISSS Fellow | 2026