Self-Injury is known by many names, including self-abuse, self-mutilation, deliberate self-harm, parasuicidal behavior. It may be referred to by specific methods of self-injury such as "delicate" or "coarse" cutting, burning, or hair pulling.

Self-Injury transcends gender, age, religion, educational and income level. It may be accompanied by depression, and/or a range of psychiatric problems such as other mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addictions, eating disorders or psychotic disorders. The longer it goes unrecognized and untreated the more disruptive it is to the sufferer's life and relationships and the more treatment resistant it may become.

More information about the relationship between self-injury and clinical depression

• Study of Patients Who Exhibited Cutting Behavior and Suicidality

• Depression: Suicide and Self Injury

• Psychological Characteristics Common in Self-Injurers

• Depression is Common in People Who Self-Injure: Therapist's Comments

• Cutting: Self Mutilating to Release Emotional Stress

• Self Mutilation: Self-Injurers Often Suffered Sexual or Emotional Abuse

Treatment

• Teen-Depression Treatment Teaches Kids to Handle Anxiety

• Can Caviar Cure Depression? Fishing for Health

• Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing to Treat PTSD

• Coping with Feelings and Thoughts of Suicide - Transcript

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