Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

All Outputs (65)

An interpretative phenomenological analysis of young people’s self-harm in the context of interpersonal stressors and supports: parents, peers and clinical services (2018)
Journal Article
Wadman, R., Vostanis, P., Sayal, K., Majumder, P., Harroe, C., Clarke, D., …Townsend, E. (2018). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of young people’s self-harm in the context of interpersonal stressors and supports: parents, peers and clinical services. Social Science and Medicine, 212, 120-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.07.021

Rationale: Self-harm in young people is of significant clinical concern. Multiple psychological, social and clinical factors contribute to self-harm, but it remains a poorly understood phenomenon with limited effective treatment options. Objective: T... Read More about An interpretative phenomenological analysis of young people’s self-harm in the context of interpersonal stressors and supports: parents, peers and clinical services.

What do young adolescents think about taking part in longitudinal self-harm research?: findings from a school-based study (2018)
Journal Article
Lockwood, J., Townsend, E., Royes, L., Daley, D., & Sayal, K. (2018). What do young adolescents think about taking part in longitudinal self-harm research?: findings from a school-based study. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 12(23), https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-018-0230-7

Background: Research about self-harm in adolescence is important given the high incidence in youth, and strong links to suicide and other poor outcomes. Clarifying the impact of involvement in school based self-harm studies on young adolescents is an... Read More about What do young adolescents think about taking part in longitudinal self-harm research?: findings from a school-based study.

Treatment as usual (TAU) as a control condition in trials of cognitive behavioural-based psychotherapy for self-harm: impact of content and quality on outcomes in a systematic review (2018)
Journal Article
Witt, K., de Moraes, D. P., Salisbury, T. T., Arensman, E., Gunnell, D., Hazell, P., …Hawton, K. (2018). Treatment as usual (TAU) as a control condition in trials of cognitive behavioural-based psychotherapy for self-harm: impact of content and quality on outcomes in a systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 235, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.04.025

Background Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the mainstay of evaluations of the efficacy of psychosocial interventions. In a recent Cochrane systematic review we analysed the efficacy of cognitive behavioural-based psychotherapies compared t... Read More about Treatment as usual (TAU) as a control condition in trials of cognitive behavioural-based psychotherapy for self-harm: impact of content and quality on outcomes in a systematic review.

‘Great powers and great responsibilities’: a brief comment on A brief mobile app reduces nonsuicidal and suicidal self-injury: evidence from three randomized controlled trials (Franklin et al., 2016) (2017)
Journal Article
Nielsen, E., Kirtley, O., & Townsend, E. (2017). ‘Great powers and great responsibilities’: a brief comment on A brief mobile app reduces nonsuicidal and suicidal self-injury: evidence from three randomized controlled trials (Franklin et al., 2016). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85(8), 826-830. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000189

Online and mobile mental health applications (apps) herald exciting new opportunities for the treatment and prevention of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs). With such rapid technological advances it is paramount that healthcare innovation... Read More about ‘Great powers and great responsibilities’: a brief comment on A brief mobile app reduces nonsuicidal and suicidal self-injury: evidence from three randomized controlled trials (Franklin et al., 2016).

Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk (2017)
Journal Article
Hochard, K. D., Ashcroft, S., Carroll, J., Heym, N., & Townsend, E. (2019). Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 49(1), 64-75. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12402

Nightmares have been shown to be robust predictors of self-harm risk, beyond depressive symptoms and hopelessness at times. However, few studies have investigated associations between nightmare content and increased self-harm risk. The present study... Read More about Exploring thematic nightmare content and associated self-harm risk.

Experience of self-harm and its treatment in looked-after young people: an interpretative phenomenological analysis (2017)
Journal Article
Wadman, R., Armstrong, M., Clarke, D., Harroe, C., Majumder, P., Sayal, K., …Townsend, E. (in press). Experience of self-harm and its treatment in looked-after young people: an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Archives of Suicide Research, 22(3), https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2017.1355286

Objectives: We report the first Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis examination of self-harm and experience of clinical services in young people in the public care system. Methods: Qualitative interviews with 24 looked-after young people. Result... Read More about Experience of self-harm and its treatment in looked-after young people: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

A sequence analysis of patterns in self-harm in young people with and without experience of being looked-after in care (2017)
Journal Article
Wadman, R., Clarke, D., Sayal, K., Armstrong, M., Harroe, C., Majumder, P., …Townsend, E. (2017). A sequence analysis of patterns in self-harm in young people with and without experience of being looked-after in care. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56(4), 388-407. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjc.12145

Objectives: Young people in the public care system (‘looked-after’ young people) have high levels of self-harm. Design: This paper reports the first detailed study of factors leading to self-harm over time in looked-after young people in England, usi... Read More about A sequence analysis of patterns in self-harm in young people with and without experience of being looked-after in care.

Functional coping dynamics and experiential avoidance in a community sample with no self-injury vs. non-suicidal self-injury only vs. those with both non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviour (2017)
Journal Article
Nielsen, E., Sayal, K., & Townsend, E. (2017). Functional coping dynamics and experiential avoidance in a community sample with no self-injury vs. non-suicidal self-injury only vs. those with both non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviour. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(6), Article 575. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060575

Although emotional avoidance may be a critical factor in the pathway from psychological distress to self-injury and/or suicidality, little is known about the relative importance of differing functional coping dynamics and experiential avoidance betwe... Read More about Functional coping dynamics and experiential avoidance in a community sample with no self-injury vs. non-suicidal self-injury only vs. those with both non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviour.

Public perceptions of self-harm: a test of an attribution model of public discrimination (2017)
Journal Article
Nielsen, E., & Townsend, E. (in press). Public perceptions of self-harm: a test of an attribution model of public discrimination. Stigma and Health, https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000090

This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study applied Corrigan, Markowitz, Watson, Rowan, and Kubiak’s (2003) attribution model of public discrimination toward individuals with mental ill-health to explore public perceptions of self-harm—an underre... Read More about Public perceptions of self-harm: a test of an attribution model of public discrimination.

Impulsivity and self-harm in adolescence: a systematic review (2016)
Journal Article
Lockwood, J., Daley, D., Townsend, E., & Sayal, K. (2017). Impulsivity and self-harm in adolescence: a systematic review. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 26(4), 387-402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-016-0915-5

Research supports an association between impulsivity and self-harm, yet inconsistencies in methodology across studies have complicated understanding of this relationship. This systematic review examines the association between impulsivity and self-ha... Read More about Impulsivity and self-harm in adolescence: a systematic review.

Dealing with difficult days: functional coping dynamics in self-harm ideation and enactment (2016)
Journal Article
Nielsen, E., Sayal, K., & Townsend, E. (2017). Dealing with difficult days: functional coping dynamics in self-harm ideation and enactment. Journal of Affective Disorders, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.036

Background: Self-harm affords people a means of coping. However, little is known about how functional coping dynamics differ between stressful situations in which people self-harm (enactment), think about harming (ideation), or experience no self-har... Read More about Dealing with difficult days: functional coping dynamics in self-harm ideation and enactment.

Investigating the interaction between sleep symptoms of arousal and acquired capability in predicting suicidality (2016)
Journal Article
Hochard, K. D., Heym, N., & Townsend, E. (in press). Investigating the interaction between sleep symptoms of arousal and acquired capability in predicting suicidality. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12285

Heightened arousal significantly interacts with acquired capability to predict suicidality. We explore this interaction with insomnia and nightmares independently of waking state arousal symptoms, and test predictions of the Interpersonal Theory of S... Read More about Investigating the interaction between sleep symptoms of arousal and acquired capability in predicting suicidality.

Exploring the relationship between experiential avoidance, coping functions and the recency and frequency of self-harm (2016)
Journal Article
Schmahl, C., Nielsen, E., Sayal, K., & Townsend, E. (2016). Exploring the relationship between experiential avoidance, coping functions and the recency and frequency of self-harm. PLoS ONE, 11(7), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159854

This study investigated the relationship between experiential avoidance, coping and the recency and frequency of self-harm, in a community sample (N = 1332, aged 16–69 years). Participants completed online, self-report measures assessing self-harm, m... Read More about Exploring the relationship between experiential avoidance, coping functions and the recency and frequency of self-harm.

Psychosocial interventions following self-harm in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2016)
Journal Article
Hawton, K., Witt, K. G., Taylor Salisbury, T. L., Arensman, E., Gunnell, D., Hazell, P., …van Heeringen, K. (2016). Psychosocial interventions following self-harm in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry, 3(8), https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366%2816%2930070-0

Background: Self-harm (intentional acts of non-fatal self-poisoning or self-injury) is common, often repeated and strongly associated with suicide. Effective aftercare of individuals who self-harm is therefore important. We have undertaken a Cochrane... Read More about Psychosocial interventions following self-harm in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Uncovering key patterns in self-harm in adolescents: sequence analysis using the card sort task for self-harm (CaTS) (2016)
Journal Article
Townsend, E., Wadman, R., Sayal, K., Armstrong, M., Harroe, C., Majumder, P., …Clarke, D. (2016). Uncovering key patterns in self-harm in adolescents: sequence analysis using the card sort task for self-harm (CaTS). Journal of Affective Disorders, 206, 161-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.004

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 invest... Read More about Uncovering key patterns in self-harm in adolescents: sequence analysis using the card sort task for self-harm (CaTS).

Psychosocial interventions for self-harm in adults (2016)
Journal Article
Hawton, K., Witt, K. G., Taylor Salisbury, T. L., Arensman, E., Gunnell, D., Hazell, P., …van Heeringen, K. (in press). Psychosocial interventions for self-harm in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012189

Background: Self-harm (SH; intentional self-poisoning or self-injury) is common, often repeated, and associated with suicide. This is an update of a broader Cochrane review first published in 1998, previously updated in 1999, and now split into three... Read More about Psychosocial interventions for self-harm in adults.

Epidemiology and trends in non-fatal self-harm in three centres in England, 2000–2012: findings from the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England (2016)
Journal Article
Geulayov, G., Kapur, N., Turnbull, P., Clements, C., Waters, K., Ness, J., …Hawton, K. (2016). Epidemiology and trends in non-fatal self-harm in three centres in England, 2000–2012: findings from the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England. BMJ Open, 6, Article e010538. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010538

Objectives: Self-harm is a major health problem in many countries, with potential adverse outcomes including suicide and other causes of premature death. It is important to monitor national trends in this behaviour. We examined trends in non-fatal se... Read More about Epidemiology and trends in non-fatal self-harm in three centres in England, 2000–2012: findings from the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England.

The behavioral effects of frequent nightmares on stress tolerance (2016)
Journal Article
Hochard, K. D., Heym, N., & Townsend, E. (2016). The behavioral effects of frequent nightmares on stress tolerance. Dreaming, 26(1), 42-49. https://doi.org/10.1037/drm0000013

Frequent nightmares have been linked to daily distress using self-report measures. The present study investigated the impact of frequent nightmares on a stressful cognitive test requiring participants to perform additions of 2 previously displayed si... Read More about The behavioral effects of frequent nightmares on stress tolerance.

An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of self-harm repetition and recovery in young adults (2016)
Journal Article
Wadman, R., Clarke, D., Sayal, K., Vostanis, P., Armstrong, M., Harroe, C., …Townsend, E. (2016). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of self-harm repetition and recovery in young adults. Journal of Health Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316631405

Six young adults (19–21) with repeat self-harm for over five years were interviewed about their self-harm, why they continued and what factors might help them to stop. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis identified six themes: Keeping self-harm... Read More about An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of self-harm repetition and recovery in young adults.

Rates of self-harm presenting to general hospitals: a comparison of data from the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England and Hospital Episode Statistics (2016)
Journal Article
Clements, C., Turnbull, P., Hawton, K., Geulayov, G., Waters, K., Ness, J., …Kapur, N. (2016). Rates of self-harm presenting to general hospitals: a comparison of data from the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England and Hospital Episode Statistics. BMJ Open, 6, Article e009749. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009749

Objective: Rates of hospital presentation for self-harm in England were compared using different national and local data sources. Design: The study was descriptive and compared bespoke data collection methods for recording self-harm presentations... Read More about Rates of self-harm presenting to general hospitals: a comparison of data from the Multicentre Study of Self-Harm in England and Hospital Episode Statistics.