Abstract
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is comparing addiction to nonsuicidal self‐harm. A study by NIDA researchers is based not on clinical work but an analysis of the words used by posters on Reddit. Because many posters used language that indicate self‐injury shares characteristics with addiction — “craving” and calling their cutting or other self‐harm an “addiction” and talking about getting “clean,” for example — the researchers correctly assessed that the criteria used to diagnose substance use disorder and nonsuicidal self harm, could, theoretically, be similar. However, the study, published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions, suggests that people with nonsuicidal self harm could be treated by the same methods used to treat addiction. “Non‐suicidal self‐injury is often private and hidden, and like substance use disorders, is highly stigmatized and can lead to significant harm if left undiagnosed and untreated,” said NIDA Director Nora Volkow, M.D., in a statement accompanying the release of the journal article. “Though this study alone does not demonstrate that self‐injury can necessarily be classified as an addiction, learning more about the addictive‐like behaviors of self‐harm will be crucial to improve our understanding and treatment of this condition.” About 17% of adolescents (and 6% of adults) engage in nonsuicidal self‐harm.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.