Mental Illnesses and Related Self-Injury Behavior

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Psychiatric, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 3137

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
Interests: digital mental health; prolonged social withdrawal; mood disorders

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Guest Editor
Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
Interests: suicidal behavior; hikikomori; human-animal interactions; social inclusion

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Guest Editor
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
Interests: possible selves; youth mental health; mindsets (implicit theories); brief intervention

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mental illnesses and related self-injury behavior are among the most pressing and complex issues facing our society today. Self-injury behavior, or self-harm, refers to intentional harm inflicted on oneself, such as cutting, burning, or hitting oneself. Self-injury behavior is often a sign of underlying emotional distress and can be a way for individuals to attempt to regulate their emotions or cope with overwhelming feelings. Mental illnesses and self-injury behavior can be complex and challenging to understand, but with proper assessment and treatment, individuals can learn to manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life. It is essential to seek help from a mental health professional if you or someone you know is struggling with mental illness or self-injury behavior. As our understanding of mental health continues to evolve, it is essential that we explore new research and approaches to these challenging topics. This Special Issue calls for papers to explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment of mental illnesses, as well as those that investigate the underlying mechanisms of self-injury behavior. We welcome all submissions related to the above-mentioned topics and from various disciplines, including, but not limited to, psychology, social work, psychiatry, and neuroscience.

Dr. Tim M. H. Li
Dr. Paul W. C. Wong
Dr. Shimin Zhu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • mental health
  • emotional distress
  • self-injury behavior
  • self-harm
  • suicide

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 277 KiB  
Article
Predictors of Suicide Risk and Mental Health Outcomes among Hong Kong Veterinarians: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Camille K. Y. Chan and Paul W. C. Wong
Behav. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13090770 - 15 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1658
Abstract
The professional quality of life (ProQOL) in the veterinary profession has gained increasing attention, yet little is known about its association with the mental health status of Hong Kong veterinarians. This study aimed to examine the impact of elements that make up ProQOL [...] Read more.
The professional quality of life (ProQOL) in the veterinary profession has gained increasing attention, yet little is known about its association with the mental health status of Hong Kong veterinarians. This study aimed to examine the impact of elements that make up ProQOL on the risk of suicide, depression, and anxiety among Hong Kong veterinarians. All veterinarians registered and practicing in Hong Kong at the time of recruitment were eligible to take part in the e-survey study between 1 January and 31 March 2022. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the data from 56 participants. The results showed that 22.0% of the participants were at risk of suicide, 19.6% had current suicidal ideation, 29.4% had depression, and 29.4% had anxiety symptoms. The findings suggested poor mental health status among Hong Kong veterinarians and were comparable to or more prevalent than those reported in Anglophone and European countries. Results from the binary logistic regression suggested that burnout was a predictor of depressive symptoms, and that secondary traumatic stress showed potential in predicting suicide risk. Our study, however, did not find conclusive evidence supporting compassion satisfaction as a predictor of reduced symptoms of common mental issues. Further investigation into contextual factors affecting the mental health of veterinarians in Hong Kong is warranted. Improving the profession’s mental health literacy and self-efficacy should be prioritized as a suicide prevention strategy to enhance mental health awareness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Illnesses and Related Self-Injury Behavior)

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7 pages, 218 KiB  
Case Report
Successful Pharmacologic Treatment of Self-Bloodletting with Factitious Chronic Anemia (Lasthénie de Ferjol Syndrome) with High-Dose Serotonergic Medication: A Case Report
by Stefan Mestermann, Laura Rudtke, Razvan-Marius Brazdis, Thanos Tsaktanis, Johannes Kornhuber and Norbert Thürauf
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(3), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14030237 - 14 Mar 2024
Viewed by 989
Abstract
Self-induced bloodletting (SBL) is a very rare form of self-injury (SI) seen primarily in adolescents and young adults with personality and eating disorders. It can result in complications like malaise, fatigue, or iron-deficiency anemia (Lasthénie de Ferjol syndrome, LFS), and poses a risk [...] Read more.
Self-induced bloodletting (SBL) is a very rare form of self-injury (SI) seen primarily in adolescents and young adults with personality and eating disorders. It can result in complications like malaise, fatigue, or iron-deficiency anemia (Lasthénie de Ferjol syndrome, LFS), and poses a risk of accidental death or suicide. The condition often goes undetected due to patient concealment. There is no specific treatment established, and pharmacological strategies remain uncertain. We discuss the case of a 22-year-old female patient treated at our Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Department following a suicide attempt via SBL. She self-administered a venous cannula, losing 1.5 L of blood. Diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia (LFS), she was initially treated with mirtazapine, risperidone, lithium, and later off-label high-dose clomipramine (300 mg/d). Clomipramine significantly reduced her SBL and suicidal thoughts, and her hemoglobin levels re-normalized under iron-substitution therapy. Despite improvement and later discharge, she attempted suicide by SBL again three months later, having stopped clomipramine due to adverse side effects. High-dose escitalopram was administered, leading to a decrease and eventual cessation of her SBL urges. This case demonstrates that patients with SBL/LFS can benefit from high-dose clomipramine or escitalopram. Despite its rarity, the consideration of high-dose serotonergic antidepressants is crucial in psychiatric diagnostics and treatment for patients affected by SBL/LFS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Illnesses and Related Self-Injury Behavior)
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