Treatment Study for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)
Self Injurious Behavior Without Suicidal Intent
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Self Injurious Behavior Without Suicidal Intent focused on measuring Non-suicidal self-injury, Self-injurious behavior, NSSI, Anxiety, Depression, Transdiagnostic, CBT, Unified Protocol
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- At least 18 years old
- Engage in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) to reduce or lessen negative thoughts or feelings
- Not taking psychotropic medications, or meet criteria for stability on a particular dose and are willing to maintain a stable dosage throughout the study
Meet the proposed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria for NSSI disorder, which includes:
- five or more days in which the individual has engaged in NSSI in the past year
- NSSI is associated with at least two two of the following: psychological precipitant (e.g., negative feelings or thoughts), urge prior to the act, preoccupation with NSSI, contingent response (e.g., expectation that the act will relieve a negative feeling state)
- clinically significant distress or interference caused by NSSI or its consequences
- NSSI does not occur exclusively during states of psychosis, delirium, or intoxication
- absence of suicidal intent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current suicidal ideation and intent
- Currently receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or any psychotherapy to address NSSI, anxiety, depression, or other Axis I disorders (and are not willing to discontinue that treatment)
- Unwilling to refrain from initiating additional treatment during the course of the study
- Current or very recent symptoms that warrant immediate clinical attention, alternative treatment, and/or a higher level of care that cannot be provided through the study (e.g., florid delusions or hallucinations, rapid mood state, severe manic symptoms)
- Current or recent (within 3 months) history of substance use disorder (exception would be marijuana, caffeine, nicotine)
- Emotional symptomatology is due to a medical/physical condition
Sites / Locations
- Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Arm 4
Experimental
Experimental
Experimental
Experimental
2wk baseline + awareness (+ reappraisal)
2wk baseline + reappraisal (+ awareness)
4wk baseline + awareness (+ reappraisal)
4wk baseline + reappraisal + (awareness)
Participants in this arm will first undergo a two-week baseline phase. Participants who evidence a significant decrease in non-suicidal self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, or SITBs, (i.e., "responders") after emotion awareness training will go straight to a four-week follow-up, and not receive cognitive reappraisal. Participants who evidence a less than satisfactory response in non-suicidal SITBs (i.e., "partial responders") after emotion awareness training will return to a two-week baseline phase before receiving cognitive reappraisal, and then enter a four-week follow-up. Participants who evidence little to no response in non-suicidal SITBs (i.e., "non-responders") after emotion awareness training will immediately receive cognitive reappraisal and then enter a four-week follow-up.
Participants will first undergo a two-week baseline phase. Participants who evidence a significant decrease in non-suicidal SITBs (i.e., "responders") after cognitive reappraisal will go straight to a four-week follow-up, and not receive emotion awareness training. Participants who evidence a less than satisfactory response in non-suicidal SITBs (i.e., "partial responders") after cognitive reappraisal will return to a two-week baseline phase before receiving emotion awareness training, and then enter a four-week follow-up. Participants who evidence little to no response in non-suicidal SITBs and behaviors (i.e., "non-responders") after cognitive reappraisal will immediately receive emotion awareness training and then enter a four-week follow-up.
Participants in this arm will first undergo a four-week baseline phase. Participants who evidence a significant decrease in non-suicidal SITBs (i.e., "responders") after emotion awareness training will go straight to a four-week follow-up, and not receive cognitive reappraisal. Participants who evidence a less than satisfactory response in non-suicidal SITBs (i.e., "partial responders") after emotion awareness training will return to a two-week baseline phase before receiving cognitive reappraisal, and then enter a four-week follow-up. Participants who evidence little to no response in non-suicidal SITBs (i.e., "non-responders") after emotion awareness training will immediately receive cognitive reappraisal and then enter a four-week follow-up.
Participants in this arm will first undergo a four-week baseline phase. Participants who evidence a significant decrease in non-suicidal SITBs (i.e., "responders") after cognitive reappraisal will go straight to a four-week follow-up, and not receive emotion awareness training. Participants who evidence a less than satisfactory response in non-suicidal SITBs (i.e., "partial responders") after cognitive reappraisal will return to a two-week baseline phase before receiving emotion awareness training, and then enter a four-week follow-up. Participants who evidence little to no response in non-suicidal SITBs (i.e., "non-responders") after cognitive reappraisal will immediately receive emotion awareness training and then enter a four-week follow-up.