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Cited by 188Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchBehavioral and Psychological StudiesChild Nutrition and Feeding Issues

The association between self-injurious behaviors and autism spectrum disorders

Open access
Minshawi, Noha, Hurwitz, Sarah, Fodstad, Jill, Biebl, Sara, Morris, Danielle, McDougle, Christopher·2014·Psychology Research and Behavior Management
DOI 10.2147/prbm.s44635PMC PMC3990505
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Abstract

A key area of concern in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are self-injurious behaviors (SIBs). These are behaviors that an individual engages in that may cause physical harm, such as head banging, or self-biting. SIBs are more common in children with ASD than those who are typically developing or have other neurodevelopmental disabilities. Therefore, it is important that clinicians who work with children with ASD have a solid understanding of SIB. The purpose of this paper is to review the research on the epidemiology of SIB in children with ASD, factors that predict the presence of SIB in this population, and the empirically supported behavioral treatments available.

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Crossref · 10.2147/prbm.s44635

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140 of 140 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Severe irritability can impact relationships, access to educational programming and therapeutic/behavioral services, and work opportunities and can lead to stress and reduced quality of life for individuals, family members, and caregivers.

    “Severe irritability can impact relationships, access to educational programming and therapeutic/behavioral services, and work opportunities and can lead to stress and reduced quality of life for individuals, family members, and caregivers [18, 19, 122–124].”

    From Pharmacological treatment in autism: a proposal for guidelines on common co-occurring psychiatric symptoms (2025) · cites this paper as [122]

    In “SIB defined and incidence in ASD” (page not provided), the paper says self-injurious behavior can restrict educational and vocational opportunities, increase social isolation, and compromise an individual’s quality of life. “Behavioral assessment of SIB” also refers to effects on others’ quality of life. The paper addresses self-injury rather than severe irritability and does not establish the claimed effects on access to therapeutic services or stress among family members and caregivers. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • These self-injurious behaviours appear to differ in nature from NSSI in typically developing populations: they occur in front of others without attempts to disguise them, being most commonly associated with intellectual disability and severe receptive and expressive language deficits.

    “These self-injurious behaviours, which have been the focus of autism research in children and adults [12–14], appear to differ in nature from NSSI in the typically developing populations: they occur in front of others without attempts to disguise them, being most commonly associated with intellectual disability and severe receptive and expressive language deficits.”

    From A 'choice', an 'addiction', a way 'out of the lost': Exploring self-injury in autistic people without intellectual disability (2019) · cites this paper as [12]

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  • High-frequency self-injurious behaviours in autism spectrum conditions, such as head-banging and biting, are commonly classed as stereotyped and as elements of repetitive and restricted behaviours and interests.

    “NSSI in autism spectrum conditions (ASC) is challenging to define due to the presence of high-frequency self-injurious behaviours, such as head-banging and biting, which are commonly classed as ‘stereotyped’ [12], as elements of repetitive and restricted behaviours and interests (RRBI).”

    From A 'choice', an 'addiction', a way 'out of the lost': Exploring self-injury in autistic people without intellectual disability (2019) · cites this paper as [12]

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3 of the 143 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [31]Borthwick-Duffy SA Prevalence of destructive behaviors: A study of aggression, self-injury, and property destruction Thompson T Gray DB Destructive Behavior in Developmental Disabilities: Diagnosis and Treatment Thousand Oaks, CA US Sage Publications, Inc 1994 3 23
  2. [46]Iwata BA Pace GM Dorsey MF The functions of self-injurious behavior: an experimental-epidemiological analysis J Appl Behav Anal Summer 1994 27 2 215 240 8063623 PMC1297800
  3. [93]Foxx RM Decreasing Behaviors of Severely Retarded and Autistic Person Champaign Research Press 1982

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Related

Authors
Minshawi, N., Hurwitz, S., Fodstad, J., Biebl, S., Morris, D., & McDougle, C.
Affiliations
  • Indiana University Health (US)
  • Indiana University Bloomington (US)
  • Medical University of South Carolina (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Minshawi, Noha
ORCID
Venue
Psychology Research and Behavior Management
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2014-04
Volume
7
Pages
125
ISSN
1179-1578 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.2147/prbm.s44635
PMC
PMC3990505
OpenAlex
W2052622375
Cited by
188
References
143
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3
FWCI
1.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Psychology Research and Behavior Management (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Dove Medical Press (Taylor and Francis Group) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • IUScholarWorks (Indiana University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
Keywords
self-harm, autism spectrum disorder, children, risk factors, behavior therapy, head banging, self-biting, neurodevelopmental disorders

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