Psychosocial functioning in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: the roles of childhood maltreatment, borderline personality disorder and depression

Abstract Background There is a lack of studies examining psychosocial functioning in patients with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), especially in adolescents, and rates of impaired functioning in existing literature vary considerably. These variations may be attributable to further risk factors that...

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Main Authors: Denisa Ghinea, Anna Fuchs, Peter Parzer, Julian Koenig, Franz Resch, Michael Kaess
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-07-01
Series:Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-021-00161-x
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author Denisa Ghinea
Anna Fuchs
Peter Parzer
Julian Koenig
Franz Resch
Michael Kaess
author_facet Denisa Ghinea
Anna Fuchs
Peter Parzer
Julian Koenig
Franz Resch
Michael Kaess
author_sort Denisa Ghinea
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background There is a lack of studies examining psychosocial functioning in patients with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), especially in adolescents, and rates of impaired functioning in existing literature vary considerably. These variations may be attributable to further risk factors that influence psychosocial functioning. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine whether adolescent NSSI patients with childhood maltreatment (CM), a known risk factor for lower psychosocial functioning, may differ from adolescent NSSI patients without CM, and whether these differences may be explained by the severity of comorbid disorders. Specifically, we examined whether severity of borderline personality disorder (BPD), depression and posttraumatic stress disorder may explain differences in psychosocial functioning in NSSI patients with and without CM. Methods Data of 368 adolescents with NSSI disorder from an outpatient clinic were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Clinicans’ rating of the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) was collected, in addition to clinical interviews. Results Results indicate that GAF scores were lower among NSSI patients with CM and that the difference in psychosocial functioning between these groups was explained by BPD and depression severity. Conclusions Psychosocial functioning in NSSI patients varies depending on whether they have experienced CM or not. Specifically, these differences seem to be attributable to higher BPD and depression severity in adolescent NSSI patients with CM. Clinicians should ensure to assess CM and focus on BPD and depression severity in this population. Treatment of BPD and depression may notably reduce psychosocial impairment in NSSI patients with CM.
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spelling doaj.art-f149ca28857247fbaefb67f92a5182282022-12-21T22:05:54ZengBMCBorderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation2051-66732021-07-018111110.1186/s40479-021-00161-xPsychosocial functioning in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: the roles of childhood maltreatment, borderline personality disorder and depressionDenisa Ghinea0Anna Fuchs1Peter Parzer2Julian Koenig3Franz Resch4Michael Kaess5Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of HeidelbergDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of HeidelbergDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of HeidelbergDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of HeidelbergDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of HeidelbergDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of HeidelbergAbstract Background There is a lack of studies examining psychosocial functioning in patients with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), especially in adolescents, and rates of impaired functioning in existing literature vary considerably. These variations may be attributable to further risk factors that influence psychosocial functioning. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine whether adolescent NSSI patients with childhood maltreatment (CM), a known risk factor for lower psychosocial functioning, may differ from adolescent NSSI patients without CM, and whether these differences may be explained by the severity of comorbid disorders. Specifically, we examined whether severity of borderline personality disorder (BPD), depression and posttraumatic stress disorder may explain differences in psychosocial functioning in NSSI patients with and without CM. Methods Data of 368 adolescents with NSSI disorder from an outpatient clinic were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Clinicans’ rating of the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) was collected, in addition to clinical interviews. Results Results indicate that GAF scores were lower among NSSI patients with CM and that the difference in psychosocial functioning between these groups was explained by BPD and depression severity. Conclusions Psychosocial functioning in NSSI patients varies depending on whether they have experienced CM or not. Specifically, these differences seem to be attributable to higher BPD and depression severity in adolescent NSSI patients with CM. Clinicians should ensure to assess CM and focus on BPD and depression severity in this population. Treatment of BPD and depression may notably reduce psychosocial impairment in NSSI patients with CM.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-021-00161-xChildhood maltreatmentDepressionBorderline personality disorderPsychosocial functioningStructural equation model
spellingShingle Denisa Ghinea
Anna Fuchs
Peter Parzer
Julian Koenig
Franz Resch
Michael Kaess
Psychosocial functioning in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: the roles of childhood maltreatment, borderline personality disorder and depression
Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation
Childhood maltreatment
Depression
Borderline personality disorder
Psychosocial functioning
Structural equation model
title Psychosocial functioning in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: the roles of childhood maltreatment, borderline personality disorder and depression
title_full Psychosocial functioning in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: the roles of childhood maltreatment, borderline personality disorder and depression
title_fullStr Psychosocial functioning in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: the roles of childhood maltreatment, borderline personality disorder and depression
title_full_unstemmed Psychosocial functioning in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: the roles of childhood maltreatment, borderline personality disorder and depression
title_short Psychosocial functioning in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: the roles of childhood maltreatment, borderline personality disorder and depression
title_sort psychosocial functioning in adolescents with non suicidal self injury the roles of childhood maltreatment borderline personality disorder and depression
topic Childhood maltreatment
Depression
Borderline personality disorder
Psychosocial functioning
Structural equation model
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-021-00161-x
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