Impulsivity and self-harm in adolescence: a systematic review

Lockwood, Joanna, Daley, David, Townsend, Ellen and Sayal, Kapil (2017) Impulsivity and self-harm in adolescence: a systematic review. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 26 (4). pp. 387-402. ISSN 1435-165X

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Abstract

Research supports an association between impulsivity and self-harm, yet inconsistencies in methodology across studies have complicated understanding of this relationship. This systematic review examines the association between impulsivity and self-harm in community-based adolescents aged 11-25 years and aims to integrate findings according to differing concepts and methods. Electronic searches of EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, CINAHL, PubMed and The Cochrane Library, and manual searches of reference lists of relevant reviews, identified 4,496 articles published up to July 2015, of which 28 met inclusion criteria. Twenty-four of the studies reported an association between broadly specified impulsivity and self-harm. However, findings varied according to the conception and measurement of impulsivity and the precision with which self-harm behaviours were specified. Specifically, lifetime non-suicidal self-injury was most consistently associated with mood-based impulsivity related traits. However, cognitive facets of impulsivity (relating to difficulties maintaining focus or acting without forethought) differentiated current self-harm from past self-harm. These facets also distinguished those with thoughts of self-harm (ideation) from those who acted on thoughts (enaction). The findings suggested that mood-based impulsivity is related to the initiation of self-harm, while cognitive facets of impulsivity are associated with the maintenance of self-harm. In addition, behavioural impulsivity is most relevant to self-harm under conditions of negative affect. Collectively, the findings indicate that distinct impulsivity facets confer unique risks across the life-course of self-harm. From a clinical perspective, the review suggests that interventions focusing on reducing rash reactivity to emotions or improving self-regulation and decision-making may offer most benefit in supporting those who self-harm.

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/858124
Additional Information: The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00787-016-0915-5
Keywords: Self-harm, Non-suicidal self-injury, Impulsivity, Adolescence, Urgency
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Medicine > Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology
University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Science > School of Psychology
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-016-0915-5
Depositing User: Eprints, Support
Date Deposited: 07 Nov 2016 09:01
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 18:43
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/38534

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