Commentary: Defining self-harm: how inconsistencies in language persist – a commentary/reflection on Ward and Curran (2021)

TY - JOUR

T1 - Commentary

T2 - Defining self-harm: how inconsistencies in language persist – a commentary/reflection on Ward and Curran (2021)

AU - Wilson, Emma

AU - Ougrin, Dennis

N1 - Funding Information: The authors have declared that they have no competing or potential conflicts of interest. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health

PY - 2021/11

Y1 - 2021/11

N2 - Self-harm definition is an important focus of academic research and clinical practice. The precise definition of self-harm has been contested for decades, and current terminology varies across, and sometimes within, countries. This commentary has been written to highlight the problematic use of the term ‘deliberate’ self-harm (i.e. DSH) and to clarify the terminology currently recommended by clinical agencies in the United Kingdom. Comparisons will be made to other definitions in the field, such as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), with the aim of contributing to the worldwide discussion about how we conceptualise, discuss and treat suicidal and non-suicidal behaviours. The commentary concludes by highlighting the findings of Ward and Curran (2021). It is suggested that undiagnosed ADHD may be a potential driver for self-harm, particularly among girls, further highlighting the ongoing challenges in identifying and predicting which youth are at risk for self-harm and suicidal behaviours. Central to this challenge has been the long-standing confusion around the best way to define self-harm.

AB - Self-harm definition is an important focus of academic research and clinical practice. The precise definition of self-harm has been contested for decades, and current terminology varies across, and sometimes within, countries. This commentary has been written to highlight the problematic use of the term ‘deliberate’ self-harm (i.e. DSH) and to clarify the terminology currently recommended by clinical agencies in the United Kingdom. Comparisons will be made to other definitions in the field, such as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), with the aim of contributing to the worldwide discussion about how we conceptualise, discuss and treat suicidal and non-suicidal behaviours. The commentary concludes by highlighting the findings of Ward and Curran (2021). It is suggested that undiagnosed ADHD may be a potential driver for self-harm, particularly among girls, further highlighting the ongoing challenges in identifying and predicting which youth are at risk for self-harm and suicidal behaviours. Central to this challenge has been the long-standing confusion around the best way to define self-harm.

KW - ADHD

KW - clinical guidelines

KW - psychosocial assessment

KW - Self-harm

KW - suicidal behaviours

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85113137470&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/camh.12502

DO - 10.1111/camh.12502

M3 - Comment/debate

AN - SCOPUS:85113137470

SN - 1475-357X

VL - 26

SP - 372

EP - 374

JO - Child and Adolescent Mental Health

JF - Child and Adolescent Mental Health

IS - 4

ER -