A new meta-analysis study finds people engage in self-harm and think about suicide as a means of reducing some types of stress. The perceived stress release from embarking on destructive behaviors indicates a potential for therapy and other types of intervention.
The risk of self-harm presenting to emergency rooms is three times higher for boys with ASD compared to those not on the autism spectrum. Additionally, researchers found a four-fold increase in self-harm behaviors for both males and females with ADHD. Children with less than 80% school attendance also had a three times higher risk of self-harming behaviors.
An analysis of user posts from the Reddit r/selfharm forum found people who self-harm describe their activities as an "addiction", marked with characteristic cravings and an escalation in severity or tolerance.
Teens who have self-harmed five or more times in their lives have a significantly higher pain threshold than those who have never self-harmed.
Young adults on the autism spectrum with co-morbid psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and affective disorders, have a higher risk of self-harm and suicidal behaviors.
Bisexual people are over six times more likely to engage in non-suicidal self-injury than people of other sexual orientations, a new study reports. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were contributory factors to the self-harming behaviors.
Preschool-aged children on the autism spectrum were 2.7 times more likely to experience gastrointestinal problems, including pain, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting than their typically developing peers. Almost 50% of those with ASD reported frequent GI symptoms, compared to 18% of those without the disorder. 30% of autistic children experienced multiple GI symptoms. Multiple GI problems were associated with sleep and attention problems, as well as self-harm, aggression, and repetitive behaviors in both children with ASD and those not on the autism spectrum.
Findings show suicidal thoughts can begin in children as young as nine years of age. Family conflict and parental monitoring are significant predictors of suicidal thoughts in children.
With at least 6% of the general population and up to 60% of psychiatric patients having a personality disorder, a new report looks at the biological causes and treatment options for personality disorders.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) triples the risk of suicide and self-harm in those with the condition.
Despite widespread propaganda, people with mental illnesses only commit 3-4% of all violent acts within the U.S in any given year. Mental health conditions are more strongly associated with suicide, not homicide. Restricting access to guns for those with mental health issues does not take into account those who already own guns and develop mental health conditions over their lifetime. Researchers say, given the climate of blame, people with severe mental health disorders may be dissuaded from seeking treatment.
A new study reveals several biomarkers for eating disorders that are apparent two years prior to diagnosis.