AUTHOR=Yan Huiru , Zhang Yuyanan , Lu Zhe , Li Mingzhu , Ge Yuqi , Mei Dongli , Kang Zhewei , Sun Yaoyao , Li Qianqian , Yan Hao , Yang Lei , Song Peihua , Shi Chuan , Shang Shaomei , Yue Weihua 

TITLE=High-risk group and functional subtypes of non-suicidal self-injury in young adults with mental disorders

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1098178

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1098178

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: Identifying high-risk groups of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) with multiple risk factors and different functional subtypes contribute to implementing person-centered interventions. 
Methods: We investigated NSSI profiles among a sample of 258 psychiatric inpatients aged 18-25 years. All participants completed well-validated measures of internal personal and external environmental characteristics. One-hundred and ninety patients reported a lifetime history of NSSI and completed an additional NSSI assessment. A k-means cluster analysis was conducted to extract characteristics of risk factors and functional subtypes. Independent sample t-test, analysis of variance and χ2 test were used to test the difference of demographic statistical factors, risk factors and functional scores between groups with different frequency of NSSI. 
Results: The clustering of risk factors analyses supported 4-clusters. The groups with unfavorable personal and unfavorable environmental characteristics had the highest risk of repeated NSSI. Functional subtype clustering analyses supported 5-clusters. Among patients with repeated NSSI, those with depression were mainly accompanied by the “Sensation Seeking” subtype, bipolar disorder mainly supported the “Anti-suicide” subtype, and eating disorders were mostly “Social Influence” subtype. There was an interaction between functional subtypes and mental disorders. 
Limitations: All participants were in treatment in a psychiatric service and the results may not be generalizable to a community sample. The data included retrospective self-report which may be inaccurate due to recall bias.
Conclusions: It is necessary to identify high-risk groups of NSSI who with unfavorable personal and environmental characteristics and clinical interventions need to consider the heterogeneity of patients' functional subtypes of NSSI.