Ethical practices in community-based research in non-suicidal self-injury: A systematic review

The growing interest in community-based research on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) reflects the high prevalence rates found among vulnerable adolescents and young adults. A significant concern in research with vulnerable populations, and on sensitive topics, is the development of an ethical framework that protects the needs and rights of the participants while responding to researchers' goals and limitations and the broader clinical and public health concerns.

The aim of the present study was to review the ethical practices followed in community-based research on NSSI.

A systematic review of literature was conducted, based on PRISMA guidelines, on community-based surveys in NSSI, published between 1995 and 2016. A total of 93 studies were included in the review.

The results examine a range of ethical issues; the procedures for consent and assent for study participation, protection of confidentiality and the limits of confidentiality, assessment of imminent risk of suicide and subsequent processes, and debriefing measures. The interaction between the study characteristics and the reported ethical procedures has been examined, with a focus on participant age, study design (cross-sectional or longitudinal), survey modality (paper-based survey or online survey) and primary variable/s of interest (only NSSI or NSSI and suicidal ideation/behavior) under study. The review describes the typical ethical practices in community-based research on NSSI, identifies the gaps in the existing literature, and has implications for the formulation of best-practice guidelines.