@article{ref1,
title="Self-injury as an addictive disorder",
journal="Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services",
year="2020",
author="Worley, Julie",
volume="58",
number="6",
pages="13-16",
abstract="Self-injury is a mental health-related behavior people engage in to feel pain because they feel numb, to experience physical pain to ease their psychological pain, or to experience an emotional release. Self-injury is more common in patients with other co-occurring anxiety or mood disorders. An addictive component to self-injury has been identified related to an increase in dopamine levels from the self-injury, which then disrupts normal dopamine production similar to substance use disorders. Instruments are available to help identify patients who self-injure along with questions that should be asked in the course of a mental health assessment and physical examination. Patients with self-injury should be treated for any underlying mental health disorder as well as for self-injury, which includes therapy strategies and medications. Nurses can play a vital role in identifying and treating this disorder, which carries risk factors including infection, accidental death, and a higher risk of suicide. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(6), 13-16.].<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0279-3695",
doi="10.3928/02793695-20200513-03",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20200513-03"
}