Epidemiological research has identified both environmental
and biological correlates of severe (Self-Injurious Behavior) SIB or aggression
that may greatly influence the development, course, maintenance, and severity
of these disorders. Sleep and cyclical variables represent two potentially important
biological factors related to destructive behavior, which include certain mood
disorders and other biological processes that are periodic and influence behavior
(e.g., the menstrual cycle). In this chapter, we have summarized a line of research
on relations between destructive behavior and sleep and cyclical variables. One
study showed that children with severe behavior disorders were much more likely
to have markedly disturbed sleep than typically developing peers. Another study
showed that day-to-day fluctuations in sleep and SIB are often inversely correlated,
with decreased sleep (sleep deprivation) often followed by increased SIB. A series
of studies showed that behavioral interventions designed to entrain sleep patterns
in synchrony with the individual's biological clock could effectively treat sleep
disorders in this population and, in rare cases, sleep treatment may significantly
reduce SIB. With regard to cyclical variables in SIB, we have developed a set
of procedures for detecting and testing hypotheses about cyclical SIB in nonverbal
individuals and for identifying the biological processes that may be responsible
for periodicity in this disorder. Further research is needed to identify treatments
that will more effectively manage individuals with treatment-resistant cyclical
behavior disorders. - Schroeder, Stephen, Oster-Granite, Mary, & Travis
Thompson, Self-Injurious Behavior, American Psychological Association: Washington
DC, 2002.
Personal
Reflection Exercise #2 The preceding section contained information
about sleep and cyclical variables in self-mutilating clients. Write three case
study examples regarding how you might use the content of this section in your
practice.
Reviewed 2023
Update Discovery of Intentional Self-Harm Patterns from Suicide
and Self-Harm Surveillance Reports
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Vichianchai, V., & Kasemvilas, S. (2022). Discovery of Intentional Self-Harm Patterns from Suicide and Self-Harm Surveillance Reports. Healthcare informatics research, 28(4), 319–331. https://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2022.28.4.319
Peer-Reviewed Journal Article References:
Nielsen, E., & Townsend, E. (2018). Public perceptions of self-harm—A test of an attribution model of public discrimination.Stigma and Health, 3(3), 204–218.
Sansone, R. A., Sellbom, M., & Songer, D. A. (2018). Borderline personality disorder and mental health care utilization: The role of self-harm.Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 9(2), 188–191.
Siddaway, A. P., Wood, A. M., O'Carroll, R. E., & O'Connor, R. C. (2019). Characterizing self-injurious cognitions: Development and validation of the Suicide Attempt Beliefs Scale (SABS) and the Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Beliefs Scale (NSIBS).Psychological Assessment, 31(5), 592–608.
QUESTION
16 What are two potentially important biological factors related to destructive
Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB) behavior? To select and enter your answer go to Test.