Open AccessDoes Nonsuicidal Self-injury Prospectively Predict Change in Depression and Self-criticism?
Author(s) -
Taylor A. Burke,
Kathryn Fox,
Rachel L. Zelkowitz,
Diana M. Smith,
Lauren B. Alloy,
Jill M. Hooley,
David A. Cole
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
cognitive therapy and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.322
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1573-2819
pISSN - 0147-5916
DOI - 10.1007/s10608-018-9984-8
Subject(s) - self criticism , psychology , clinical psychology , psychopathology , quality of life research , poison control , injury prevention , depression (economics) , meta analysis , suicide prevention , prospective cohort study , human factors and ergonomics , psychiatry , medicine , medical emergency , public health , nursing , economics , macroeconomics
Few studies have investigated nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) as a predictor of outcomes other than suicidal self-injury, severely limiting our understanding of this behavior's full range of consequences. Three independent studies were used to examine the prospective association between NSSI and two outcomes: depressive symptoms and self-criticism. Data were collected from samples of (1) adults with past-month NSSI, (2) adults with lifetime NSSI, and (3) adults with past-year NSSI. Studies included one-month and six-month follow-up periods. Results were tested in an internal meta-analysis. Results suggested that NSSI did not prospectively predict changes in self-criticism. No changes in depressive symptoms were seen over shorter follow-up periods; however, NSSI predicted increases in depressive symptoms at six-month follow-up in one sample. The internal meta-analysis indicated a null relationship between NSSI and prospective internalizing symptoms. Future research should replicate these findings and examine a broader range of outcomes of NSSI to better understand its complex relationship to psychopathology.