Self-injurious behaviour in patients with anorexia nervosa: a quantitative study
Abstract Background Many patients with an eating disorder report difficulties in regulating their emotions and show a high prevalence of self-injurious behaviour. Several studies have stated that both eating disorder and self-injurious behaviour help emotion regulation, and are thus used as coping m...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-018-0214-2 |
| _version_ | 1797715875101409280 |
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| author | Linda Smithuis Nienke Kool-Goudzwaard Janneke M. de Man-van Ginkel Harmieke van Os-Medendorp Tamara Berends Alexandra Dingemans Laurence Claes Annemarie A. van Elburg Berno van Meijel |
| author_facet | Linda Smithuis Nienke Kool-Goudzwaard Janneke M. de Man-van Ginkel Harmieke van Os-Medendorp Tamara Berends Alexandra Dingemans Laurence Claes Annemarie A. van Elburg Berno van Meijel |
| author_sort | Linda Smithuis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Many patients with an eating disorder report difficulties in regulating their emotions and show a high prevalence of self-injurious behaviour. Several studies have stated that both eating disorder and self-injurious behaviour help emotion regulation, and are thus used as coping mechanisms for these patients. We aimed to determine the prevalence of self-injurious behaviour, its characteristics and its emotion-regulation function in patients with anorexia nervosa or an eating disorder not otherwise specified (n = 136). Methods A cross-sectional design using a self-report questionnaire. Mann–Whitney U-tests were conducted to compare the background and clinical variables between patients with self-injurious behaviour and patients without this type of behaviour. Changes in emotional state before and after self-injurious behaviour were tested by Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Results Our results showed a 41% prevalence of self-injurious behaviour in the previous month. Patients who performed self-injurious behaviour had a statistically significant longer treatment history for their eating disorder than those who did not. Whereas 55% of self-injuring patients had a secondary psychiatric diagnosis, only 21% of participants without self-injurious behaviour did. Regarding the impact of self-injurious behaviour, our results showed a significant increase in “feeling relieved” and a significant decrease in “feeling angry at myself”, “feeling anxious” and “feeling angry at others”. This indicates that self-injurious behaviour can be regarded as an emotion-regulation behaviour. Participants were usually aware of the causes of their self-injurious behaviour acts. Conclusions Professionals should systematically assess the occurrence of self-injurious behaviour in eating disorder patients, pay special attention to patients with more severe and comorbid psychopathology, and those with a long treatment history. This assessment should be followed by a functional analysis of the self-injurious behaviour and by effective therapeutic interventions alongside the eating disorder treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:14:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d0710e4b457c465bbe6869fa2e651d7e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-2974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:14:17Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-d0710e4b457c465bbe6869fa2e651d7e2023-09-02T19:03:01ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742018-10-016111010.1186/s40337-018-0214-2Self-injurious behaviour in patients with anorexia nervosa: a quantitative studyLinda Smithuis0Nienke Kool-Goudzwaard1Janneke M. de Man-van Ginkel2Harmieke van Os-Medendorp3Tamara Berends4Alexandra Dingemans5Laurence Claes6Annemarie A. van Elburg7Berno van Meijel8Parnassia Psychiatric InstituteInholland University of Applied SciencesJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of Nursing Science, University Medical Center Utrecht, University UtrechtJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of Nursing Science, University Medical Center Utrecht, University UtrechtAltrecht Eating Disorders RintveldRivierduinen Eating disorders Ursula, RivierduinenFaculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU LeuvenClinical Psychology, Altrecht Eating Disorders RintveldMental Health Nursing, Inholland University of Applied SciencesAbstract Background Many patients with an eating disorder report difficulties in regulating their emotions and show a high prevalence of self-injurious behaviour. Several studies have stated that both eating disorder and self-injurious behaviour help emotion regulation, and are thus used as coping mechanisms for these patients. We aimed to determine the prevalence of self-injurious behaviour, its characteristics and its emotion-regulation function in patients with anorexia nervosa or an eating disorder not otherwise specified (n = 136). Methods A cross-sectional design using a self-report questionnaire. Mann–Whitney U-tests were conducted to compare the background and clinical variables between patients with self-injurious behaviour and patients without this type of behaviour. Changes in emotional state before and after self-injurious behaviour were tested by Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Results Our results showed a 41% prevalence of self-injurious behaviour in the previous month. Patients who performed self-injurious behaviour had a statistically significant longer treatment history for their eating disorder than those who did not. Whereas 55% of self-injuring patients had a secondary psychiatric diagnosis, only 21% of participants without self-injurious behaviour did. Regarding the impact of self-injurious behaviour, our results showed a significant increase in “feeling relieved” and a significant decrease in “feeling angry at myself”, “feeling anxious” and “feeling angry at others”. This indicates that self-injurious behaviour can be regarded as an emotion-regulation behaviour. Participants were usually aware of the causes of their self-injurious behaviour acts. Conclusions Professionals should systematically assess the occurrence of self-injurious behaviour in eating disorder patients, pay special attention to patients with more severe and comorbid psychopathology, and those with a long treatment history. This assessment should be followed by a functional analysis of the self-injurious behaviour and by effective therapeutic interventions alongside the eating disorder treatment.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-018-0214-2Anorexia nervosaFeeding and eating disordersSelf-harmSelf-injurious behaviour |
| spellingShingle | Linda Smithuis Nienke Kool-Goudzwaard Janneke M. de Man-van Ginkel Harmieke van Os-Medendorp Tamara Berends Alexandra Dingemans Laurence Claes Annemarie A. van Elburg Berno van Meijel Self-injurious behaviour in patients with anorexia nervosa: a quantitative study Journal of Eating Disorders Anorexia nervosa Feeding and eating disorders Self-harm Self-injurious behaviour |
| title | Self-injurious behaviour in patients with anorexia nervosa: a quantitative study |
| title_full | Self-injurious behaviour in patients with anorexia nervosa: a quantitative study |
| title_fullStr | Self-injurious behaviour in patients with anorexia nervosa: a quantitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-injurious behaviour in patients with anorexia nervosa: a quantitative study |
| title_short | Self-injurious behaviour in patients with anorexia nervosa: a quantitative study |
| title_sort | self injurious behaviour in patients with anorexia nervosa a quantitative study |
| topic | Anorexia nervosa Feeding and eating disorders Self-harm Self-injurious behaviour |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-018-0214-2 |
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