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Clinical assessment of self-injurious behavior
J R Brasic1, J Y Barnett, S C Ahn
1Bellevue Hospital Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016-6497, USA.
Psychological Reports
|February 1, 1997
Summary
The Timed Self-injurious Behavior Scale offers reliable, direct observation for assessing self-harm frequency. This observational scale achieved over 80% rater agreement for key behaviors like self-biting and head punching.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral science
- Psychiatry
- Clinical psychology
Background:
- Self-injurious behavior (SIB) assessment often relies on subjective recall.
- Objective, reliable measurement tools are crucial for effective intervention.
- The Timed Self-injurious Behavior Scale (TSIBS) was developed to address these needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and evaluate the Timed Self-injurious Behavior Scale (TSIBS).
- To assess the reliability of the TSIBS in measuring SIB frequency.
- To determine inter-rater reliability for specific self-injurious behaviors.
Main Methods:
- The TSIBS was used to rate the frequency of 16 SIBs over 10-minute observation periods.
- Three independent raters assessed 19 videotaped sessions of a subject exhibiting eight types of SIBs.
- Inter-rater reliability was calculated for frequently occurring behaviors.
Main Results:
- The TSIBS demonstrated high inter-rater reliability, with 80% or better agreement.
- Reliability was particularly strong for self-biting, head punching, head slapping, and hair removal.
- The scale's reliance on direct observation enhances its objectivity.
Conclusions:
- The Timed Self-injurious Behavior Scale is a reliable observational tool for quantifying self-injurious behavior.
- Its objective nature overcomes limitations of subjective symptom recall.
- The scale shows promise for clinical and research applications in SIB assessment.