Measuring the urge to self-injure: preliminary data from a clinical sample

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant clinical concern.
• Accurate assessment of NSSI urges is crucial for effective treatment.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the intensity of NSSI urges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Alexian Brothers Urge to Self-Injure Scale (ABUSI).
• To determine the reliability and validity of the ABUSI for assessing NSSI urge severity.
• To establish ABUSI as a tool for clinical and research applications.

Main Methods:

• Administered the ABUSI to 386 adolescent and adult psychiatric patients admitted for NSSI treatment.
• Collected data on NSSI frequency, quality of life, functional impairment, and suicidal ideation.
• Assessed psychometric properties including internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and various forms of validity.

Main Results:

• The ABUSI demonstrated adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
• The scale showed sensitivity to change over the course of treatment.
• Convergent, predictive, and incremental validity supported the ABUSI's utility.

Conclusions:

• The ABUSI is a reliable and valid measure for the intensity of the urge to self-injure.
• Preliminary findings support the ABUSI as a valuable tool for clinical assessment.
• The ABUSI shows potential for advancing research in non-suicidal self-injury.