Psychotherapeutic interventions for non-suicidal self-injury

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) comprises a heterogenic behavioural pattern, which is associated with a number of psychiatric symptoms. Current international comparisons illustrate a 19% life-time prevalence of NSSI in youth and 5.6% in the general population. These numbers point to the necessity of effective therapeutic interventions which focus on the treatment of NSSI. To date few studies evaluating the reduction of NSSI through psychotherapeutic treatment exist. In this systematic review, we discuss results concerning the utilisation of therapeutic help and the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic interventions on NSSI with regards to adults and adolescents. First encouraging results, especially regarding cognitive-behavioral methods, can be reported. However, these results would have to be validated using larger, more representative samples and defining NSSI as outcome-variable.