The prevalence of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in a representative sample of the German population

BMC Psychiatry

Research Article

Nestor D. Kapusta¹  Jörg M. Fegert²  Rebecca C. Groschwitz²  Paul L. Plener²  Marc Allroggen²  Elmar Brähler³ 

[1] Department for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria;Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Steinhoevelstr. 5, 89075, Ulm, Germany;Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany;Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany;

关键词: Nonsuicidal Self-Injury;    NSSI;    Germany;    Self-injury;    Self-harm;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12888-016-1060-x

 received in 2016-02-15, accepted in 2016-10-04,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a proposed new “condition for further study” in the DSM-5. To date no prevalence data has been available on this diagnostic entity from a representative sample of the general population.MethodsA representative sample of the German population (N = 2509, mean age = 48.8 years, SD = 18.1, female 55.4 %) completed the NSSI section of the German version of the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI-G).ResultsA history of NSSI at least once during lifetime was reported by 3.1 % of all participants, with higher lifetime prevalence rates in younger age groups. DSM-5 NSSI disorder criteria were met by 0.3 %. The most common function of NSSI was automatic negative reinforcement (e.g. to alleviate negative feelings).ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting rates for the proposed NSSI category in DSM-5 from a representative sample of the general population. In comparison to findings from community samples of adolescents, adults seem to have lower lifetime prevalence rates of NSSI, thus making it necessary to emphasize prevention and treatment efforts in younger age groups.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016