Background: Non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI) recognized as a worldwide public health concern among adolescents. Recent studies have shown a relation between Sluggish cognitive tempo(SCT) and a range of adversities linked to NSSI including many of the psychiatric disorders and behavioral problems yet no study to date has examined the relationship between SCT and NSSI/NSSI functions among adolescents.
Objectives: In this study our aim was to evaluate SCT symptoms and their relationships with NSSI functions while addressing the other psychiatric symptoms and problems specifically associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivitiy disorder (ADHD) among adolescents.
Methods: Our sample consists of 50 adolescents with NSSI (68% girl; between the ages 13-18). Adolescents completed the Brief Symptom Inventory, SCT Rating Scale, Conners Wells Adolescent Scale, and Inventory of Statements About Self Injury.
Results: SCT symptoms presents in 40% of adolescent with NSSI behavior. Adolescents with SCT have more attention-deficit/hyperactivitiy disorder ADHD, somatization, obsession-compulsion, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, phobic anxiety, and psychoticism scores and also have more family, emotional, conduct, and cognitive problems than others. SCT-Sluggish factor remained associated with the Antidissociation and Selfcare; SCT-Daydreaming factor remained associated with the Anti suicide functions of NSSI after controlling ADHD and other psychiatric symptoms.
Conclusion: This is the first study to examine SCT symptoms in relation to NSSI , and our findings demonstrate that SCT symptoms (both daydreaming and sluggishness) are uniquely associated with some of NSSI functions in adolescents with NSSI above and beyond other psychiatric symptoms and ADHD. This study provides strong preliminary support for the association between SCT and NSSI/NSSI functions among adolescents.
Key words: Self-Injurious Behavior, Adolescents, Cognition, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Suicide
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