Therapeutic Nursing Interventions to Reduce Self-Injurious Behavior: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Mental Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB) is a significant concern linked to mental health issues and potential suicide.
• Nurses play a vital role in managing SIB, yet nursing-specific interventions lack comprehensive review.
• Existing strategies are effective, but a nursing-focused perspective is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review to identify and synthesize nursing care interventions for reducing SIB.
• To provide a nursing perspective on effective strategies for SIB management.
• To inform clinical practice and future research in mental health nursing.

Main Methods:

• A five-stage methodological framework guided the review, adhering to PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Extensive literature searches were conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Garuda databases.
• Four studies published between 2015-2025, focusing on nursing care, therapy, and self-injurious behavior in adolescents and young adults, were included.

Main Results:

• Four effective therapeutic nursing interventions for reducing SIB were identified across clinical and non-clinical settings.
• Recommended interventions include group psychological nursing for group settings.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is recommended for hospital settings, while psychoeducation and MBCT are suggested for community settings. Dhikr is noted as a culturally relevant practice.

Conclusions:

• The identified interventions offer valuable references for managing SIB in children, adolescents, and adults in diverse settings.
• These findings support the integration of these four interventions as a strategic approach within mental health nursing and psychiatric care.
• Further research can explore the efficacy and implementation of these nursing-led strategies.