Non suicidal self-injury in adolescents: A review of psychological treatments

Abstract

Self-harm in teenagers has become more important in recent years, given its increased prevalence and the greater risk involved of making a suicidal attempt and developing a borderline personality disorder or a major depressive disorder. We aim to review the literature as to psychological treatments for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).  Studies assessing a psychotherapeutic intervention for self-harm have been included.  The results indicate that no treatment for self-harm has demonstrated enough evidence in adolescents. Mentalization based therapy (MBT-A) has shown efficacy in one study and the dialectical behavior therapy (DBT-A) has shown efficacy. However, the variety and heterogeneity of results make it difficult to draw more specific conclusions, such as regards the effective active components. Criteria and instruments in the field of the treatment of NSSI need to be standardized in order to improve the validity and clinical utility of results.