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Behavioral Sciences
Special Issues
Mental Illnesses and Related Self-Injury Behavior
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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 January 2025 | Viewed by 5663

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tim M. H. Li

E-Mail Website
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
Dr. Paul W. C. Wong

E-Mail Website
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
Dr. Shimin Zhu

E-Mail Website
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

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

 

Keywords

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

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 279 KiB  
Article
Emotional Risk Factors, Rumination, and Self-Criticism in Relation to Suicidal Ideation Among Chinese Depressive Outpatients
by Barbara Chuen Yee Lo and Sophie Kai Lam Cheng
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 1111; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111111 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 381
Abstract
Previous studies indicated that individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) are at high risk of suicide, making the identification of risk factors in suicidal depressive outpatients essential for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. This study aims to (1) identify emotional risk factors [...] Read more.
Previous studies indicated that individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) are at high risk of suicide, making the identification of risk factors in suicidal depressive outpatients essential for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. This study aims to (1) identify emotional risk factors and (2) examine the relationship between cognitive markers—including rumination and self-criticism—and suicidal ideation among depressive outpatients. A total of 165 Chinese clinical outpatients with depression were recruited from local hospitals in Hong Kong. In our sample, 68% of patients with moderate depression and 87.5% of patients with severe depression reported experiencing suicidal thoughts. The results from the logistic regression revealed a significant interaction between rumination and self-critical thoughts in relation to suicidal ideation. Specifically, the ruminative patients with self-critical thoughts were more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those without self-critical thoughts. These findings align with the cognitive model of suicide, suggesting that maladaptive information processing and negative cognitive content are associated with an increased risk of suicide. The current findings have clinical implications for the future development of more specific and accurate mental health assessment, preventive programs, and psychotherapies for depressive outpatients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Illnesses and Related Self-Injury Behavior)
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 8 | Viewed by 2307
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)

Other

Jump to: Research

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 2099
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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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Rumination and Self-critical Thoughts in Predicting Suicidal Ideation among Chinese Depressed Outpatients
Author: Lo
Highlights: • The severity of depressive symptoms emerged as a significant risk factor in predicting suicidal thoughts in Chinese depressed patients. • Depressed outpatients with suicidal ideation reported significantly higher levels of stress, worries, and anxiety compared to those without suicidal ideation. • A significant interaction between rumination and self-criticism was identified as a predictor of suicidal ideation in the study.

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