PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Kerr, Patrick L.
AU  - Muehlenkamp, Jennifer J.
AU  - Turner, James M.
TI  - Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Review of Current Research for Family Medicine and Primary Care Physicians
AID  - 10.3122/jabfm.2010.02.090110
DP  - 2010 Mar 01
TA  - The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
PG  - 240--259
VI  - 23
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/23/2/240.short
4100  - http://www.jabfm.org/content/23/2/240.full
SO  - J Am Board Fam Med2010 Mar 01; 23
AB  - Self-injury is a dangerous behavior that is different from suicidal behavior but is associated with increased risk of suicide attempts. Some effective psychological treatments for self-injury exist. Physicians in family medicine and primary care settings play a vital role as a first step in the treatment process for those who self-injure. Physicians can enhance the care provided to those who self-injure via the accurate assessment of risk, the understanding of the functions of the behavior, assisting the patient in identifying motivations for treatment and treatment options, and provision of long-term behavioral and risk monitoring. This article summarizes the current scientific knowledge regarding the clinical features, epidemiology, assessment methods, and existing treatments of self-injury. The role of the primary care physician in the treatment of patients who self-injure is specifically outlined.