Understanding and Working with Adults with NSSI

Abstract

This chapter elaborates on the prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adults. NSSI severity can be characterized in different ways, including increased versatility, increased frequency, need for medical attention due to the physical harm caused by NSSI, or self-reported subjective severity. Moreover, NSSI commonly co-occurs with other psychiatric disorders. According to NSSI research focused on adult samples, the functions of NSSI primarily reduce unwanted negative emotions, which is similar to other age groups. The chapter clarifies how critical it is to recognize that NSSI is not limited to the youth so prevention and intervention must be accessible to people of all ages.