Books and Articles — Self Injury

Expert on Mental Illness Reveals Her Own Fight, by Benedict Carey. New York Times, June 23, 2011.  “No one knows how many people with severe mental illness live what appear to be normal, successful lives, because such people are not in the habit of announcing themselves. They are too busy juggling responsibilities, paying the bills, studying, raising families - all while weathering gusts of dark emotions or delusions that would quickly overwhelm almost anyone else. Now, an increasing number of them are risking exposure of their secret, saying that the time is right.”

Minimal Training Aids in Response to Trauma, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, March 31, 2011.  “Even a small amount of training can teach people how to be more supportive when a friend or loved one confides in them a traumatic event or other type of mistreatment, suggests new research from the University of Oregon.”

Self-Injury Videos Popular With Teens, by Todd Neale. Med Page Today, February 21, 2011.  “Videos posted online that feature self-injury are popular viewing among young adults and possibly teens - and some researchers worry that this may encourage copycat behaviors.”

Why Self-Harm Feels Good in the Brain, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, August 31, 2010.  “As strange as it may sound, some individuals hurt themselves to obtain relief from emotional stress. Actions such as cutting or burning oneself are behaviors displayed by people who compulsively hurt themselves.”

Hello! Your Psychiatrist Will Skype You Now, by Julie Weingarden Dubin. Time, March 22, 2010.

Massachusetts expands mental health parity, by Nan Shnitzler. New England Psychologist, October 15, 2009.

Staying Sane May Be Easier Than You Think, by John Cloud. Time Magazine, June 22, 2009.

The Mystery of Borderline Personality Disorder, by John Cloud. Time Magazine, January 08, 2009.  “A 2008 study of nearly 35,000 adults in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that 5.9% (which would translate into 18 million Americans) had been given a borderline personality disorder (BPD) diagnosis. As recently as 2000, the American Psychiatric Association believed that only 2% had BPD. (In contrast, clinicians diagnose bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in about 1% of the population.) BPD has long been regarded as an illness disproportionately affecting women, but the latest research shows no difference in prevalence rates for men and women. Regardless of gender, people in their 20s are at higher risk for BPD than those older or younger. What defines borderline personality disorder, and makes it so explosive, is the sufferers' inability to calibrate their feelings and behavior. When faced with an event that makes them depressed or angry, they often become inconsolable or enraged. Such problems may be exacerbated by impulsive behaviors: overeating or substance abuse; suicide attempts; intentional self-injury.”

Personal Health: The Growing Wave of Teenage Self-Injury, by Jane Brody. The New York Times, May 06, 2008.  “Self-injury is a disturbing and hard-to-treat phenomenon that experts say is increasing among adolescents and young adults. ”