The SDQ dysregulation profile is associated with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in adolescents evaluated at a clinical setting

Abstract

IntroductionSuicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, and non-suicidal self-injury behavior are serious public health problems among adolescents. A significant proportion of adolescents evaluated in clinical settings meet criteria for the dysregulation profile (DP). DP is characterized by restlessness, irritability, “affective storms‿, mood instability, and aggression in a disproportionate grade to the situation. This DP might be related to increased risk of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. MethodsTwo hundred and thirty-nine adolescents from the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatric Services of the Jimenez Diaz Foundation, Madrid, were assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Dysregulation Profile, the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview and socio-demographic questionnaires. ResultsLogistic regression showed that DP adolescents were at increased risk for suicide plans, gestures, and suicide attempts. They also tended to present more self-injurious behaviors than adolescents without DP. ConclusionsOur results point to the role of self-regulatory problems in the presence of suicide plans, suicide gestures, suicide attempts, and in non-suicidal self-injury behavior. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the relationship between the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Dysregulation Profile and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors.