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Mental disorders in self-cutting adolescents
Jukka Hintikka1, Tommi Tolmunen, Marja-Liisa Rissanen
1Department of Psychiatry, Paijat-Hame Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland. jukka.hintikka@kuh.fi
Summary
Adolescent self-cutting is linked to major depressive disorder, alcohol misuse, and internalizing behaviors, particularly in girls. These findings highlight key mental health factors associated with self-harm in young people.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Mental Health
- Self-Harm Research
Background:
- Self-cutting is a prevalent form of self-harm among adolescents.
- Understanding the mental health correlates of self-cutting is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of mental disorders in community-dwelling adolescents who self-cut.
- To identify factors associated with self-cutting behavior in this population.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 80 adolescents reporting self-cutting was assessed.
- 44 participants underwent detailed assessment, including clinical interviews and psychometric measures.
- Age- and gender-matched controls were used for comparison.
Main Results:
- Self-cutting girls showed higher rates of major depressive disorder (63%), anxiety disorders (37%), and eating disorders (15%) compared to controls.
- No significant mental disorders were found in the small sample of self-cutting boys (n=3).
- Major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT) scores, and youth self-report (YSR) internalizing scores predicted self-cutting in girls.
Conclusions:
- Major depressive disorder, alcohol misuse, and internalizing behaviors are strongly associated with adolescent self-cutting.
- These associations are particularly pronounced in adolescent girls.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing these mental health issues in self-harm prevention efforts.
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