Psychotherapeutic interventions specifically developed for NSSI in adolescence: A systematic review

• Published in: European neuropsychopharmacology 2022-05, Vol.58, p.86-98
• Main Authors: Calvo, Natalia, García-González, Sara, Perez-Galbarro, Citlalli, Regales-Peco, Christina, Lugo-Marin, Jorge, Ramos-Quiroga, Josep-Antoni, Ferrer, Marc
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Adolescents; Emotional Regulation; Humans; Non-suicidal self-injury; Psychotherapy - methods; Psychotherapy interventions; Psychotropic Drugs; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Self-Injurious Behavior - diagnosis; Self-Injurious Behavior - epidemiology; Self-Injurious Behavior - therapy; Systematic review; Young adults
• ISSN: 0924-977X; 1873-7862
• DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.02.009

•First review to evaluate brief specific psychotherapies interventions (SPI) specifically designed for NSSI in adolescents.•SPI should include psychotherapeutic components from or adapted cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior Therapy, and psychoeducation.•The interventions specifically developed for adolescents with NSSI agree applying individual and brief treatments manualized (8–19 sessions).•Only 13 studies have evaluated the effectiveness of 6 different SPI.•In general, all interventions are demonstrative of the general effectiveness, but CDP and T-SIB therapies presented more effect for decreases in NSSI behaviors. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a clinically significant behavior with high relevance and prevalence, especially affecting approximately 17–18% of the adolescent population worldwide. The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of the available Specific Psychotherapeutic Interventions (SPI) focused on the reduction of NSSI behaviors. A systematic review was performed analyzing PsychINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science, PubMed and Cochrane CentralRegister of Controlled Trials to identify studies of interest from January 2010 to December 2020. According to PRISMA guidelines, only 13 studies were included in the review. Six SPI were found to specifically and significantly reduce NSSI in adolescents: Developmental Group Psychotherapy (DGP), Therapeutic Assessment (TA), Cutting Down Program (CDP), Emotional Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (ERITA), Treatment for Self-Injurious Behaviors (T-SIB) and Intensive Contextual Treatment (ICT). Furthermore, relevant improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms were observed. The results of this review demonstrate the effectiveness of these interventions, mainly the CPD and T-SIB, which are the only SPI that have been studied using Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). Considering the clinical relevance and associated functional impairment of NSSI, more research is needed to replicate the results and to increase knowledge about SPIs.