Alexithymia and self-harm: A review of nonsuicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. 2020

Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
Department of Psychology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, United States; Arthur Sommer Rotenberg Suicide and Depression Studies Unit, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada.

Suicide attempts are a significant global public health concern. Research into non-traditional factors, such as the presence of alexithymia, may shed light on the prediction of suicidal behaviours, which can aid intervention and prevention strategies. To ascertain whether alexithymia is a unique risk factor for suicide attempts, this article reviews the evidence on alexithymia related to suicidal ideation, attempts, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). A literature search was conducted for original articles examining the general and psychiatric populations. There is consistent evidence linking alexithymia with suicidal ideation and NSSI, but inconsistent evidence linking it to suicide attempts. The relationship between alexithymia and suicidality seems to differ based on whether the research focuses on suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, or NSSI. The relationship between alexithymia and suicidality can be understood within the context of multiple code theory and childhood trauma. Future research should explore the whether alexithymia can reliably distinguish between those with a single attempt and those with multiple suicide attempts as well as alexithymia levels pre- and post-intervention with suicide-related behavior as outcomes in treatment studies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000342 Affective Symptoms Mood or emotional responses dissonant with or inappropriate to the behavior and/or stimulus. Alexithymia,Emotional Disturbances,Affective Symptom,Alexithymias,Disturbance, Emotional,Disturbances, Emotional,Emotional Disturbance,Symptom, Affective,Symptoms, Affective
D012307 Risk Factors An aspect of personal behavior or lifestyle, environmental exposure, inborn or inherited characteristic, which, based on epidemiological evidence, is known to be associated with a health-related condition considered important to prevent. Health Correlates,Risk Factor Scores,Risk Scores,Social Risk Factors,Population at Risk,Populations at Risk,Correlates, Health,Factor, Risk,Factor, Social Risk,Factors, Social Risk,Risk Factor,Risk Factor Score,Risk Factor, Social,Risk Factors, Social,Risk Score,Score, Risk,Score, Risk Factor,Social Risk Factor
D013406 Suicide, Attempted The unsuccessful attempt to kill oneself. Parasuicide,Suicide Attempt,Attempt, Suicide,Attempted Suicide,Parasuicides
D016728 Self-Injurious Behavior Behavior in which persons hurt or harm themselves without the motive of suicide or of sexual deviation. Intentional Self Harm,Intentional Self Injury,Self Harm,Self-Destructive Behavior,Deliberate Self-Harm,Non-Suicidal Self Injury,Nonsuicidal Self Injury,Self-Injury,Behavior, Self-Destructive,Behavior, Self-Injurious,Deliberate Self Harm,Harm, Self,Intentional Self Injuries,Non Suicidal Self Injury,Non-Suicidal Self Injuries,Nonsuicidal Self Injuries,Self Destructive Behavior,Self Harm, Intentional,Self Injurious Behavior,Self Injury,Self Injury, Intentional,Self Injury, Non-Suicidal,Self Injury, Nonsuicidal,Self-Destructive Behaviors,Self-Harm, Deliberate,Self-Injurious Behaviors
D059020 Suicidal Ideation A risk factor for suicide attempts and completions, it is the most common of all suicidal behavior, but only a minority of ideators engage in overt self-harm. Ideation, Suicidal,Ideations, Suicidal,Suicidal Ideations

Related Publications

Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
April 2022, South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care,
Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
May 2011, Psychiatry research,
Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
May 2020, Psychiatry research,
Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
February 2021, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology,
Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
October 2018, Comprehensive psychiatry,
Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
October 2018, Journal of affective disorders,
Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
January 2016, Annual review of clinical psychology,
Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
September 2023, Eating disorders,
Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
January 2022, Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research,
Adam Iskric, and Amanda K Ceniti, and Yvonne Bergmans, and Shane McInerney, and Sakina J Rizvi
December 2021, Psychiatry research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!