Self-Injury and the Treatment Gap: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Beliefs About Causal Variables and Treatment Goals Among Caregivers, Researchers, and Clinicians

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction There is a gap between individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who need treatment for self-injurious behavior (SIB) and those who receive it. One contributing factor may be a multiplicity of beliefs about the nature of SIB and its treatment. Methods Using reflexive thematic analysis, we interviewed and integrated two knowledge sources: the perspectives of family caregivers for individuals with SIB and IDD and the perspectives of clinicians and researchers who treat and study self-injury. Results We present results from two primary belief categories: perceptions of causal variables and treatment goals. Conclusion By contextualizing the current paradigms of research and practice in self-injury as siloed depending on whether an individual does or does not have IDD, we discuss ways to deepen our understanding of the process of treatment provision for self-injurious behavior to inform efforts to close the treatment gap.