A feasibility study of the transdiagnostic self-injury interview

Abstract

Objectives

The Transdiagnostic Self-injury Interview (TSI) is a new measure that assesses the onset, frequency, methods, and severity of non-suicidal self-injury. The aims were to demonstrate the feasibility of a TSI validation study, and to investigate TSI’s criterion validity, clinical correlates, and interrater reliability.

Materials and methods

Recruiting sites were psychiatric in- and outpatient units. Feasibility targets included number of participants completing the study, TSI completion time, total participation time, participants experiencing exacerbation of symptoms, along with other targets. Criterion validity was evaluated using the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI). Clinical correlates were examined with the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the Personal and Social Performance Scale, the Affective Lability Scale-18, and the Brief Trauma Questionnaire. Interrater reliability was evaluated with video recordings and written material.

Results

Fifty participants were included. The majority were women (76%) and had a mean age of 31.3 years (SD: 10.4). Schizophrenia (44%) and schizoaffective disorder (18%) were the most prevalent diagnoses. TSI took an average 9.3 min to complete and the total participation time was on average less than one hour. One participant experienced an exacerbation of self-injury ideation (without the need of intervention). A significant correlation was found between TSI and DSHI (r: 0.94, p-value: < 0.001). TSI was correlated to C-SSRS ideation intensity and ideation frequency but not suicidal attempts. TSI was not significantly correlated to other measures. Interrater reliabilities were statistically significant.

Conclusions

The results support the feasibility of a TSI validation study, which is needed to validate TSI in different settings and across diagnoses.

Keywords:

• Non-suicidal self-injury
• self-injurious behavior
• risk behavior
• psychiatry
• psychometrics

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank David Dines Jørgensen, Yun Glerup, and Mille Kjær for rating videos with TSI, and Maria Breil for back-translating DSHI.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data of this study are available from the corresponding author (JNK) upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Central Denmark Region. The funding source had no involvement in the research project or in the writing of this article.

Notes on contributors

Jesper Nørgaard Kjær

JNK is MD, Psychiatrist at Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Department of Psychosis.

Tine Holm

TH is Cand. Psych., PhD, at Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Department of Psychosis.

Trine Ellegaard

TE is Clinical Nurse Specialist, PhD, at Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Department of Psychosis.

Sissel Madsen

SM is Project Nurse at Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Department of Psychosis.

Eva Lorentzen

EL is Medical Student at at Aarhus University.

Ane Bjerg Christensen

ABC is MD at Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Department of Psychosis.

Vibeke Bliksted

VB is Cand. Psych., PhD, and Associate Professor at Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Department of Psychosis.

Ole Mors

OM is MD, Consultant Psychiatrist, and Professor, Department Chair at Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Department of Psychosis.

Signe Dolmer

SD is MD, Consultant Psychiatrist at Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Department of Psychosis