Abstract
BackgroundThere is a lack of studies examining psychosocial functioning in patients with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), especially in adolescents, and rates of impaired functioning in existing literature vary considerably. These variations may be attributable to further risk factors that influence psychosocial functioning. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine whether adolescent NSSI patients with childhood maltreatment (CM), a known risk factor for lower psychosocial functioning, may differ from adolescent NSSI patients without CM, and whether these differences may be explained by the severity of comorbid disorders. Specifically, we examined whether severity of borderline personality disorder (BPD), depression and posttraumatic stress disorder may explain differences in psychosocial functioning in NSSI patients with and without CM.MethodsData of 368 adolescents with NSSI disorder from an outpatient clinic were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Clinicans’ rating of the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) was collected, in addition to clinical interviews.ResultsResults indicate that GAF scores were lower among NSSI patients with CM and that the difference in psychosocial functioning between these groups was explained by BPD and depression severity.ConclusionsPsychosocial functioning in NSSI patients varies depending on whether they have experienced CM or not. Specifically, these differences seem to be attributable to higher BPD and depression severity in adolescent NSSI patients with CM. Clinicians should ensure to assess CM and focus on BPD and depression severity in this population. Treatment of BPD and depression may notably reduce psychosocial impairment in NSSI patients with CM.
Highlights
Psychosocial functioning describes a person’s ability to play their part in society by carrying out roles and performing activities in daily life such as self-preservation and basic living skills, work, school or leisure activities and interactions with their social environment [1, 2]
The present study Considering the lack of studies examining psychosocial functioning in adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), our aim was to investigate psychosocial functioning in a large clinical NSSI-sample and to examine whether adolescents with or without childhood maltreatment (CM) may present with different levels of psychosocial functioning
We focused on borderline personality disorder (BPD) and depression, as those disorders have been closely linked with CM and with impairments in psychosocial functioning and are frequent in clinical samples of adolescents engaging in NSSI [45, 46, 48]
Summary
Psychosocial functioning describes a person’s ability to play their part in society by carrying out roles and performing activities in daily life such as self-preservation and basic living skills, work, school or leisure activities and interactions with their social environment [1, 2]. NSSI is defined as the direct, intentional destruction of one’s bodily tissue without the intent to die [6] It is highly prevalent in adolescent populations with rates around 17–18% [7, 8] and rates up to 60% in child and adolescent clinical settings [9]. There is a lack of studies examining psychosocial functioning in patients with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), especially in adolescents, and rates of impaired functioning in existing literature vary considerably. These variations may be attributable to further risk factors that influence psychosocial functioning. We examined whether severity of borderline personality disorder (BPD), depression and posttraumatic stress disorder may explain differences in psychosocial functioning in NSSI patients with and without CM
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
