Self-injurious behavior is the intentional harming of one's own body. Little attention has been given to SIB in the past, particularly in terms of innovative treatment approaches. Adolescents are at a particularly high-risk for developing this ineffectual coping mechanism. School counselors are in a unique position to aid in the identification of…

Acts of deliberate self-harm (DSH) by adolescents are thought to be on the increase. Many of those who self-harm are of school age and it is to be expected that schools (and their teachers) will be aware of the problem and will respond appropriately as part of their pastoral-care provision. However, a recent survey of research in pastoral care and…

Fifty teachers completed a survey to investigate knowledge, self-perceived knowledge, and attitudes regarding self-injury (SI). Teachers were aware of basic facts concerning SI; however, 78% underestimated prevalence, and only 20% felt knowledgeable. Attitudes were mixed, with 48% finding the idea of SI horrifying; however, 68% disagreeing that SI…

There is growing evidence that a functional polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) moderates the impact of negative life events (e.g., childhood abuse) on the development of depression. However, it is unclear whether the gene x environment interaction predicts suicide attempts specifically. In addition, previous studies have not…

Postvention actions are commonly employed after completed suicides and suicide attempts but can be adapted to assist affected family members in dealing with other types of crisis. The authors adapt a postvention model to be applied to systemically working with families who have a member engaging in self-injurious behavior. Recommendations for…

Young offenders internationally have a higher incidence of mental health problems compared with adolescents in the general population. Mental health issues, particularly comorbid presentations, affect the response to and outcome of rehabilitation and hence recidivism of offending. Most information on the mental health of young offenders has…

Voluntary survey responses of adolescents in corrections facilities (N=893) are compared to those of adolescents in public schools. Findings are highlighted in the following areas: (1) "Youth, Their Families and Their Environments," which includes sections on population description, family composition and relationships, family alcohol…

Using the psychoanalytic self-psychology of Heinz Kohut as the theoretical foundation, this article discusses the role of shame in adolescent suicidal behaviors. Shame is described as an essential aspect of adolescent suicidal behavior because of the significance of the stage of adolescence in the development of the healthy self. Normal…

This document is the third volume of special topics dealing with the behaviors of children and adolescents developed as a resource for school psychologists in Iowa. Each of the four chapters in this volume deals with a separate topic and typically includes background information concerning the topic, approaches regarding assessment of the behavior…

Claims that self-defeating behavior is a rational attempt to satisfy early, introjected messages about the type of person one is, arising from a desire for things perceived as good--sub specie boni. Examines the notion of the comfort zone, toxic shame, and therapists' responsibility to nourish acceptable joy. (RJM)

Describes and illustrates distinct types of dyadic death (where a second victim acts in consort with or is killed by a person who then commits suicide). Suggests an organizing dynamic of dyadic death and claims that levels of dominance, dependence-enmeshment, and the presence or absence of hostility influence the proposed typology. (RJM)

Qualifications are proposed in applying a diagnosis of psychopathic personality that considers impulsivity, feelings of remorse, and thrill seeking. Depth interviews with rock climbers and high-speed motorcyclists revealed that thrill seeking itself may not be a reliable indicator of psychopathy. (Author/TE)

Administered questionnaire containing Kelley chronic self-destructiveness scale and Beck Depression Inventory to 20 male and 38 female high school students. Found that, for males, scores on self-destructive inventory were more strongly associated with presence of suicidal ideation than were scores on depression inventory. Opposite was true for…

Describes an information-processing task that assesses the degree of attentional bias toward words with abusive connotations. In a group of eating-disordered women, this instrument was used to demonstrate that reported sexual abuse was associated with a greater cognitive bias toward abuse-related information. Associated with self-denigratory…

Questionnaires documenting self-injurious behavior (SIB) among 113 elementary students were returned by 21 London schools. Cluster analysis found patterns of behavior associated with each other, indicating that SIB may not be a homogeneous condition but may comprise a number of distinct syndromes depending on sex, age, mobility, communication…