Neuro- and Biofeedback in Nonsuicidal Self-injury

Launched by REGION ÖSTERGÖTLAND · Dec 9, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new way to help adolescents aged 15 to 19 who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), which means hurting themselves without wanting to end their life. The researchers want to see if teaching these young people to manage their emotions using techniques called neurofeedback and biofeedback can reduce their self-injury behaviors. Neurofeedback involves using real-time brain imaging to help participants learn how to control their emotional responses, while biofeedback helps them monitor and adjust their body’s reactions to feelings in real-time. By doing this, the hope is that they can find healthier ways to cope with their emotions instead of resorting to self-injury.

To participate, individuals need to be between 15 and 19 years old, have a history of self-injury, and be currently engaged with mental health services in Sweden. They should have harmed themselves at least five times in the past six months. Those who join the study will be randomly assigned to one of two training groups and will take part in multiple feedback sessions. The researchers will measure emotional reactions before and after the training to see if it helps reduce self-injury behaviors and improves emotional regulation. It's important to note that individuals with certain conditions, like severe anxiety or substance abuse, may not be eligible to participate.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • ongoing contact at the child- and adolescent psychiatric clinics in both Linköping and Norrköping, Sweden
• • ongoing contact at the primary care facilities in Linköping and Norrköping (Ungdomshälsan, Råd, Stöd \& Hälsa)
• • NSSI, independent of psychiatric diagnosis
• • between 15 and 19 years of age
• • having engaged in five or more instances of NSSI during the last six months
• • the patient is cognitively capable to decide for him- or herself
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • anorexia in starvation with BMI 16 or under
• • substance abuse disorder
• • psychosis
• • needing interpreter
• • intellectual disability
• • and for those who do the neurofeedback, severe claustrophobia, pregnancy and braces

Trial Officials