Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Comorbid Mental Disorders: a Review

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is described as deliberate destruction of one's body without suicidal intent. It is a fact that the phenomenon is associated with several mental disorders. Even so, a systematic review is lacking. The aim of this article is to compile which psychiatric disorders occur most frequently with NSSI. Methods: From a literature search, 21 of 1298 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results: Mood disorders, especially a recurrent major depression disorder, and personality disorders, particularly the borderline syndrome, are closely connected with NSSI in adolescence and adulthood. Self-injury is also present in anxiety and substance use disorders. In adolescence, externalising disorders are related to NSSI, too. Conclusions: Depressive disorders and the borderline personality disorders are robustly associated with NSSI. It is still unknown whether or not the occurrence of NSSI with particular disorders can be explained by comorbidity with the borderline syndrome.