B3449 - Moving from self-harm or violence towards others to dual harm predictors of transition in early adulthood - 21/01/2020

B number: 
B3449
Principal applicant name: 
Sarah Steeg | University of Manchester
Co-applicants: 
Dr Peter Taylor
Title of project: 
Moving from self-harm or violence towards others to dual harm: predictors of transition in early adulthood
Proposal summary: 

‘Dual harm’ is a term that has been used to describe the co-occurrence of self-harm and violence to others. Young people engaging in dual harm are likely to have specific clinical and support needs. However, very little is known about their characteristics and how individuals who have dual harmed differ from those who self-harm and those who are violent. Understanding the characteristics of people with dual harm experiences will help design services to meet their needs.
We will use data from the ALSPAC to look at differences between young people reporting self-harm, violence towards others, dual harm and neither behaviours at age 16. We are interested in differences in depression, attitudes towards violence, being exposed to self-harm and violence in the home or among peers, impulsivity, self-esteem, callous-unemotional traits, behavioural and emotional dysregulation and body image. We will then look at young people who report either self-harm or violence at age 16 and go on to report dual harm in young adulthood. We expect that their characteristics will differ from those who do not transition to dual harm.

Impact of research: 
Young people engaging in dual harm have particularly raised risks of premature mortality (3) and higher rates of psychiatric disorder (1). While there has been extensive research into characteristics and risk factors among young people who have self-harmed, very little is known about young people who move from engaging in self-harm or violence towards others to dual harm. The findings of this study will help shed light on this highly vulnerable population. Understanding the distinct characteristics of this group is the first step in developing appropriate support and clinical interventions. Reference list 1. Richmond-Rakerd LS, Caspi A, Arseneault L, et al. Adolescents Who Self-Harm and Commit Violent Crime: Testing Early-Life Predictors of Dual Harm in a Longitudinal Cohort Study. The American journal of psychiatry 2019: appiajp201818060740-appiajp. 2. Mars B, Heron J, Klonsky ED, et al. What distinguishes adolescents with suicidal thoughts from those who have attempted suicide? A population-based birth cohort study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2019; 60(1): 91-9. 3. Steeg S, Webb RT, Mok PLH, et al. Risk of dying unnaturally among people aged 15-35 years who have harmed themselves and inflicted violence on others: a national nested case-control study. Lancet Public Health 2019; 4(5): E220-E8. 4. Slade K. Dual harm: the importance of recognising the duality of self-harm and violence in forensic populations. Medicine Science and the Law 2019; 59(2): 75-7. 5. Mars B, Heron J, Crane C, et al. Clinical and social outcomes of adolescent self harm: population based birth cohort study. Bmj-British Medical Journal 2014; 349: G5954-G. 6. Latzman R.D, Lilienfeld S.O, Latzman N.E, Clark L.A. Exploring Callous and Unemotional Traits in Youth via General Personality Traits: an Eye Towards DSM-5. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment 2013; 4(3): 191-202.
Date proposal received: 
Monday, 20 January, 2020
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 21 January, 2020
Keywords: 
Mental health - Psychology, Psychiatry, Cognition, Violence, Statistical methods, Psychology - personality