A pilot study examining hemomania behaviors in psychiatry outpatients engaged with nonsuicidal self-injury

BackgroundThis study aims to conduct the first-ever evaluation of our previously proposed behaviors of "hemomania" in individuals engaged with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI).MethodsThe study encompassed 130 outpatients engaged with NSSI who applied at the psychiatry outpatient clinic. NSSI behaviors were assessed using the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury, while psychiatric diagnoses were evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders-Clinician Version. Subsequently, participants completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and Short Form of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale.ResultsThe prevalence of at least one hemomania behavior including seeing blood, tasting blood, bloodletting, and blood-drinking was observed to be 43.1% in individuals with NSSI. When participants were divided into two groups, individuals with hemomania exhibited: (1) a higher incidence of psychiatric comorbidities, increased suicide attempts, and more severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and impulsivity, (2) higher comorbidity rates of borderline personality disorder, body-focused repetitive behaviors, and dissociative disorders, and (3) elevated frequencies of certain NSSI behaviors, including cutting, biting, needle-ticking, and carving, compared to those without.ConclusionHemomania could be considered a specific impulse control disorder, characterized by heightened impulsivity and a persistent urge to obtain one's own blood. However, further studies are needed to validate this hypothesis. This pioneering study investigates hemomania behaviors involving the urge to obtain one's own blood in psychiatry outpatients engaging with NSSI. Among 130 outpatients, 43.1% exhibited at least one hemomania behavior, as shown in the prevalence diagram. Those with hemomania displayed heightened psychiatric comorbidities, increased suicide attempts, and severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and impulsivity. Elevated rates of certain NSSI behaviors were observed. These findings suggest hemomania's potential classification as an impulse control disorder, warranting further validation and exploration. image