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Self-harm in people experiencing homelessness: an investigation of incidence, characteristics and outcomes using data from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England (2022)
Journal Article
Clements, C., Farooq, B., Hawton, K., Geulayov, G., Casey, D., Waters, K., …Kapur, N. (2022). Self-harm in people experiencing homelessness: an investigation of incidence, characteristics and outcomes using data from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England. BJPsych Open, 8(2), Article e74. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2022.30

Background People who experience homelessness are thought to be at high risk of suicide, but little is known about self-harm in this population. Aims To examine characteristics and outcomes in people experiencing homelessness who presented to ho... Read More about Self-harm in people experiencing homelessness: an investigation of incidence, characteristics and outcomes using data from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England.

Life problems in children and adolescents who self-harm: findings from the multicentre study of self-harm in England (2022)
Journal Article
Townsend, E., Ness, J., Waters, K., Rehman, M., Kapur, N., Clements, C., …Hawton, K. (2022). Life problems in children and adolescents who self-harm: findings from the multicentre study of self-harm in England. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 27(4), 352-360. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12544

Background: Self-harm, a significant and increasing global problem in children and adolescents, is often repeated and is associated with risk of future suicide. To identify potential interventions, we need to understand the life problems faced by chi... Read More about Life problems in children and adolescents who self-harm: findings from the multicentre study of self-harm in England.

Examining the protective function of perceptions of post-traumatic growth against entrapment and suicidal ideation (2022)
Journal Article
Yasdiman, M. B., Townsend, E., & Blackie, L. E. (2022). Examining the protective function of perceptions of post-traumatic growth against entrapment and suicidal ideation. Journal of Affective Disorders, 300, 474-480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.118

Background: Recent evidence has found that reporting post-traumatic growth (PTG) from a past stressful life event is associated with lower reports of suicidal ideation. Perceptions of PTG measure the extent to which an individual reports positive cha... Read More about Examining the protective function of perceptions of post-traumatic growth against entrapment and suicidal ideation.

Understanding the processes underlying self-harm ideationand behaviors within LGBTQ+ young people: Aqualitative study (2021)
Journal Article
Williams, A. J., Arcelus, J., Townsend, E., & Michail, M. (2021). Understanding the processes underlying self-harm ideationand behaviors within LGBTQ+ young people: Aqualitative study. Archives of Suicide Research, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2021.2003273

Objective This study aims to understand the processes underlying self-harmful thoughts and behaviors, with and without suicidal intent, among LGBTQ+ young people. Method Nineteen semi-structured interviews took place between October 2019 and May... Read More about Understanding the processes underlying self-harm ideationand behaviors within LGBTQ+ young people: Aqualitative study.

Self-harm in children and adolescents by ethnic group: an observational cohort study from the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England (2021)
Journal Article
Farooq, B., Clements, C., Hawton, K., Ness, J., Patel, A., Kelly, S., …Kapur, N. (2021). Self-harm in children and adolescents by ethnic group: an observational cohort study from the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England. Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, 5(11), 782-791. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642%2821%2900239-X

Background: Studies report an increasing incidence of self-harm in children and adolescents, but the extent to which this is seen in different ethnic groups is unclear. We aimed to investigate rates of emergency department presentations for self-harm... Read More about Self-harm in children and adolescents by ethnic group: an observational cohort study from the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England.

Self-harm in children 12 years and younger: characteristics and outcomes based on the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England (2021)
Journal Article
Geulayov, G., Casey, D., Bale, L., Brand, F., Townsend, E., Ness, J., …Hawton, K. (2022). Self-harm in children 12 years and younger: characteristics and outcomes based on the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 57(1), 139-148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02133-6

Background: Very little is known about self-harm in children. We describe the characteristics and outcomes of children under 13years who presented following self-harm to five hospitals in England. Methods: We included children under 13years who prese... Read More about Self-harm in children 12 years and younger: characteristics and outcomes based on the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of victimisation and mental health prevalence among LGBTQ+ young people with experiences of self-harm and suicide (2021)
Journal Article
Williams, A. J., Jones, C., Arcelus, J., Townsend, E., Lazaridou, A., & Michail, M. (2021). A systematic review and meta-analysis of victimisation and mental health prevalence among LGBTQ+ young people with experiences of self-harm and suicide. PLoS ONE, 16(1), Article e0245268. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245268

Background: LGBTQ+ youth have higher rates of self-harm and suicide than cisgender, heterosexual peers. Less is known about prevalence of risks within these populations. Objectives: The first systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the... Read More about A systematic review and meta-analysis of victimisation and mental health prevalence among LGBTQ+ young people with experiences of self-harm and suicide.

What young people say about impulsivity in the short-term build up to self-harm: A qualitative study using card-sort tasks (2020)
Journal Article
Lockwood, J., Townsend, E., Allen, H., Daley, D., & Sayal, K. (2020). What young people say about impulsivity in the short-term build up to self-harm: A qualitative study using card-sort tasks. PLoS ONE, 15(12), Article e0244319. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244319

Youth who self-harm report high levels of trait impulsivity and identify impulsive behaviour as a proximal factor directly preceding a self-harm act. Yet, impulsivity is a multidimensional construct and distinct impulsivity-related facets relate diff... Read More about What young people say about impulsivity in the short-term build up to self-harm: A qualitative study using card-sort tasks.

Advancing Our Understanding of Self-harm, Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours in Autism (2020)
Journal Article
Cassidy, S. A., Robertson, A., Townsend, E., O’Connor, R. C., & Rodgers, J. (2020). Advancing Our Understanding of Self-harm, Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours in Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50, 3445–3449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04643-9

Until recently, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and behaviours have not received extensive attention in autism research. The extant research evidence indicates high rates of selfharm and suicidality in autistic people, but little research exploring why,... Read More about Advancing Our Understanding of Self-harm, Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours in Autism.

Impulsivity as a predictor of self-harm onset and maintenance in young adolescents: a longitudinal prospective study (2020)
Journal Article
Lockwood, J., Townsend, E., Daley, D., & Sayal, K. (2020). Impulsivity as a predictor of self-harm onset and maintenance in young adolescents: a longitudinal prospective study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 274, 583-592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.021

Background Rates of self-harm in young adolescents are increasing and self-harm typically emerges at this developmental stage. Greater specificity of impulsivity as a multifaceted construct is enabling investigation of links between individual impul... Read More about Impulsivity as a predictor of self-harm onset and maintenance in young adolescents: a longitudinal prospective study.

What do young people who self-harm find helpful? A comparative study of young people with and without experience of being looked after in care: What do young people who self-harm find helpful? (2020)
Journal Article
Holland, J., Sayal, K., Berry, A., Sawyer, C., Majumder, P., Vostanis, P., …Townsend, E. (2020). What do young people who self-harm find helpful? A comparative study of young people with and without experience of being looked after in care: What do young people who self-harm find helpful?. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 25(3), 157-164. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12384

Background Self‐harm amongst young people is an increasing problem, with looked‐after young people at higher risk. Despite this, little research exists on what young people who self‐harm find helpful. Method One hundred and twenty‐six 11–21... Read More about What do young people who self-harm find helpful? A comparative study of young people with and without experience of being looked after in care: What do young people who self-harm find helpful?.

Mortality in children and adolescents following presentation to hospital after non-fatal self-harm in the Multicentre Study of Self-harm: a prospective observational cohort study (2020)
Journal Article
Hawton, K., Bale, L., Brand, F., Townsend, E., Ness, J., Waters, K., …Geulayov, G. (2020). Mortality in children and adolescents following presentation to hospital after non-fatal self-harm in the Multicentre Study of Self-harm: a prospective observational cohort study. Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, 4(2), 111-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642%2819%2930373-6

© 2020 Elsevier Ltd Background: Self-harm and suicide in children and adolescents are growing problems, and self-harm is associated with a significant risk of subsequent death, particularly suicide. Long-term follow-up studies are necessary to examin... Read More about Mortality in children and adolescents following presentation to hospital after non-fatal self-harm in the Multicentre Study of Self-harm: a prospective observational cohort study.

A Behaviour Sequence Analysis of Young People and Gambling-Related Harm (2019)
Journal Article
Keatley, D., Parke, A., Townsend, E., Markham, C., & Clarke, D. (2019). A Behaviour Sequence Analysis of Young People and Gambling-Related Harm. Journal of Gambling Issues, 43,

Gambling is a worldwide issue that requires continued, extensive investigation. Most people have gambled at some point in their lives, and many do so without incurring problems. However, a number of individuals do experience gambling-related harm, an... Read More about A Behaviour Sequence Analysis of Young People and Gambling-Related Harm.

Is Camouflaging Autistic Traits Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours? Expanding the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in an Undergraduate Student Sample (2019)
Journal Article
Cassidy, S. A., Gould, K., Townsend, E., Pelton, M., Robertson, A. E., & Rodgers, J. (2020). Is Camouflaging Autistic Traits Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours? Expanding the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in an Undergraduate Student Sample. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(10), 3638–3648. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04323-3

The current study explored whether people who camouflage autistic traits are more likely to experience thwarted belongingness and suicidality, as predicted by the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS). 160 undergraduate students (86.9%... Read More about Is Camouflaging Autistic Traits Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours? Expanding the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in an Undergraduate Student Sample.

"These things don't work": young people's views on harm minimisation strategies as a proxy for self-harm: a mixed methods approach (2019)
Journal Article
Wadman, R., Nielsen, E., O’Raw, L., Brown, K., Williams, A. J., Sayal, K., & Townsend, E. (2019). "These things don't work": young people's views on harm minimisation strategies as a proxy for self-harm: a mixed methods approach. Archives of Suicide Research, 24(3), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2019.1624669

Objective: Although UK clinical guidelines make tentative recommendations for 'harm minimisation' strategies for repeated self-harm, this is in the absence of empirical evidence supporting their acceptability or effectiveness. We explore young peopl... Read More about "These things don't work": young people's views on harm minimisation strategies as a proxy for self-harm: a mixed methods approach.

Self-harm in midlife: an analysis using data from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England (2019)
Journal Article
Clements, C., Hawton, K., Geulayov, G., Waters, K., Ness, J., Rehman, M., …Kapur, N. (2019). Self-harm in midlife: an analysis using data from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England. British Journal of Psychiatry, 215(4), 600-607. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2019.90

Background: Suicide rates in England are highest in men and women in midlife (defined here as people aged 40-59 years). Despite the link between self-harm and suicide there has been little focus on self-harm in this age-group. Method: Data from th... Read More about Self-harm in midlife: an analysis using data from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England.

Psychosocial interventions for people who self-harm: Methodological issues involved in trials to evaluate effectiveness (2019)
Journal Article
Witt, K., Townsend, E., Arensman, E., Gunnell, D., Hazell, P., Salisbury, T. T., …Hawton, K. (2020). Psychosocial interventions for people who self-harm: Methodological issues involved in trials to evaluate effectiveness. Archives of Suicide Research, 24(sup2), S32-S93. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2019.1592043

We have assessed the methodological quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions to prevent self-harm repetition and suicide. Trials were identified in two systematic reviews of RCTs of psychosocial treatments following a recent (w... Read More about Psychosocial interventions for people who self-harm: Methodological issues involved in trials to evaluate effectiveness.

Feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of remotely delivered problem-solving cognitive behaviour therapy versus usual care for young people with depression and repeat self-harm: lessons learnt (e-DASH) (2019)
Journal Article
Sayal, K., Roe, J., Ball, H., Atha, C., Kaylor-Hughes, C., Guo, B., …Morriss, R. (2019). Feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of remotely delivered problem-solving cognitive behaviour therapy versus usual care for young people with depression and repeat self-harm: lessons learnt (e-DASH). BMC Psychiatry, 19(1), Article 42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-2005-3

Background Self-harm and depression are strong risk factors for repeat self-harm and suicide. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of remotely delivered problem-solving cognitive behaviour therapy (PSCBT)... Read More about Feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of remotely delivered problem-solving cognitive behaviour therapy versus usual care for young people with depression and repeat self-harm: lessons learnt (e-DASH).