Uncovering key patterns in self-harm in adolescents: Sequence analysis using the Card Sort Task for Self-harm (CaTS).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Self-harm is a significant clinical issue in adolescence. There is little research on the interplay of key factors in the months, weeks, days and hours leading to self-harm. We developed the Card Sort Task for Self-harm (CaTS) to investigate the pattern of thoughts, feelings, events and behaviours leading to self-harm.

Methods

Forty-five young people (aged 13-21 years) with recent repeated self-harm completed the CaTS to describe their first ever/most recent self-harm episode. Lag sequential analysis determined significant transitions in factors leading to self-harm (presented in state transition diagrams).

Results

A significant sequential structure to the card sequences produced was observed demonstrating similarities and important differences in anteceden

SUBMITTER: Townsend E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5082440 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature