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Category: Project

Description: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major mental health concern. Despite increased efforts to better understand, predict, and prevent NSSI, the rate of NSSI has not meaningfully decreased. This sparked considerable debate about important future research directions. Traditional treatment approaches have not yet reached the efficacy "ceiling" because they are not matched to the dynamic nature of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Using Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA) in clinical practice allows for assessment and intervention in daily life where NSSI thoughts and behaviors occur. However, to date, research on the potential benefits of (e.g., self-insight and self-efficacy) and concerns about (e.g., burden and negative emotional experiences) the use of EMA in individuals seeking treatment for NSSI remains scarce. Furthermore, it is unknown if inter-individual variables such as demographics, symptom severity, and technological affinity predict how one will experience these potential benefits and concerns when using EMA. To address these gaps, we will make use of existing data from the Detection of Acute rIsk for seLf-injurY (DAILY) project to assess to what extent individuals seeking treatment (1) report heightened insight and self-efficacy regarding their emotions, cognitions, and triggers for self-injury by using EMA, (2) report burden and negative emotional experiences associated with EMA use, and (3) how inter-individual variables predict variations in these benefits and concerns.