Self-injury and self capacities: assisting an individual in crisis

This article reports findings of a study on self-injury, childhood abuse, and self capacities that supports a theory for understanding and assisting self-injuring individuals in crisis. In the study, 233 adults from partial hospital settings and an outpatient clinic answered questions concerning self-injury, abuse history, and three self capacities (the ability to tolerate strong affect, the ability to maintain a sense of self-worth, and the ability to maintain a sense of connection to others). More than 60% reported childhood abuse. More than half reported self-injury. Individuals with a history of self-injury showed greater impairment of self capacities than individuals who did not report self-injury. Individuals with a history of childhood abuse showed greater impairment than did individuals who did not report childhood abuse. Greatest impairment was associated with both self-injury and abuse. Implications of the results are explored and the theory for assisting self-injuring individuals in crisis is presented.