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Cited by 25Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesPersonality Disorders and PsychopathologySubstance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Brief Interventions for Self-injurious Thoughts and Behaviors in Young People: A Systematic Review

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Dobias, Mallory L., Chen, Sharon, Fox, Kathryn R., Schleider, Jessica L.·2023·Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
DOI 10.1007/s10567-023-00424-9PMC PMC9885418
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Abstract

Rates of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) increase sharply across adolescence and remain high in young adulthood. Across 50 years of research, existing interventions for SITBs remain ineffective and inaccessible for many young people in particular need of mental healthcare. Briefer intervention options may increase access to care. However, many traditional interventions for SITBs take 6 months or more to complete-making it difficult for providers to target SITBs under real-world time constraints. The present review (1) identifies and (2) summarizes evaluations of brief psychosocial interventions for SITBs in young people, ages 10-24 years. We conducted searches for randomized and quasi-experimental trials conducted in the past 50 years that evaluated effects of "brief interventions" (i.e., not exceeding 240 min, or four 60-min sessions in total length) on SITBs in young people. Twenty-six articles were identified for inclusion, yielding a total of 23 brief interventions. Across all trials, results are mixed; only six interventions reported any positive intervention effect on at least one SITB outcome, and only one intervention was identified as "probably efficacious" per standard criteria for evidence-based status. While brief interventions for SITBs exist, future research must determine if, how, and when these interventions should be disseminated.

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  • A 2023 systematic review of RCTs using brief psychological interventions for self-injurious thoughts and behaviours in young people (aged 10 to 24 years) identified publications related to 23 brief interventions (Dobias et al., 2023).

    “A 2023 systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using brief psychological interventions for self-injurious thoughts and behaviours in young people (aged 10 to 24 years) identified publications related to 23 brief interventions (Dobias et al., 2023).”

    From Evaluation of a community-based brief intervention service for youth in crisis with suicidal ideation or self-harm (2024) · cites this paper as Dobias et al., 2023

    The Results (Characteristics of Included Studies) report 23 distinct brief interventions across 26 articles, and the Method (Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria) specifies a mean participant age of 10–24 years. The review was not limited to RCTs: its inclusion criteria also allowed quasi-experimental trials. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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  • In the systematic review, all of the studies deemed to be effective were designed specifically to target self-injurious thoughts and behaviours as opposed to targeting other aspects of mental health (Dobias et al., 2023).

    “While overall findings were mixed, all of the studies deemed to be effective were designed specifically to target self-injurious thoughts and behaviours as opposed to targeting other aspects of mental health, for example, depressive symptoms (Dobias et al., 2023).”

    From Evaluation of a community-based brief intervention service for youth in crisis with suicidal ideation or self-harm (2024) · cites this paper as Dobias et al., 2023

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Dobias, M. L., Chen, S., Fox, K. R., & Schleider, J. L.
Affiliations
  • Stony Brook University (US)
  • University of Denver (US)
Corresponding author
Dobias, Mallory L.
ORCID
Venue
Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2023-01-30
Volume
26
Issue
2
Pages
482-568
ISSN
  • 1096-4037 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2827
DOI
10.1007/s10567-023-00424-9
PMC
PMC9885418
OpenAlex
W4318472897
Cited by
25
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2020: 1
FWCI
1.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (2141710)
  • National Institutes of Health (1r43mh128075-01, DP5OD028123)
  • Health Resources and Services Administration
  • National Institute of Mental Health ([R43MH128075], R25MH080916)
  • NIH Office of the Director
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Keywords
self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, brief intervention, youth, adolescents, psychosocial interventions, intervention efficacy, evidence-based practice, access to mental health care, self-harm
MeSH terms
Psychosocial Intervention, Adolescent, Child, Crisis Intervention, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Male, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Self-Injurious Behavior, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult

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