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  • Self-injurious behavior in Portuguese adolescents
    Publication . Gonçalves, Sónia Ferreira; Martins, Carla; Rosendo, Ana Paula; Machado, Bárbara César; Silva, Eliana
    In order to assess the frequency and correlates of self-injurious behavior (SIB), 569 Portuguese adolescents aged 12 to 20 years completed questionnaires assessing SIB and psychopathological symptoms. Almost 28% (n = 158) reported a lifetime history of SIB and nearly 10% had performed it in the previous month. The most frequently injured body parts were arms, hands and nails. Most of the self-injurers admit that “now and then” they feel some “mild” to “moderate” pain during SIB. Most of them admitted using these behaviors to avoid/suppress negative feelings, painful images or memories, to punish themselves and to avoid doing something bad. Positive emotions increased significantly after SIB. The self-injurer group reported more psychopathological symptoms. SIB appears to be a common phenomenon with specific functions in adolescence and this must be addressed by clinicians and educational professionals.
  • Dysregulated behaviours in bulimia nervosa: a case-control study
    Publication . Gonçalves, Sónia Ferreira; Machado, Bárbara César; Martins, Carla; Brandão, Isabel; Roma-Torres, António; Machado, Paulo P.
    Bulimia nervosa (BN) is often related to self-control difficulties and to dysregulated behaviours. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of self-injurious behaviour, suicide attempts, and other dysregulated behaviours in BN, using two control groups (a healthy group and a general psychiatric group), and also to examine the association between these behaviours and alleged sexual abuse in BN. Method: Women (N = 233) aged between 13 and 38 years old were evaluated using a semi-structured interview. Results: Participants with BN reported more self-injurious behaviours, suicide attempts by drug intake, and poor control in smoking and illicit drugs use compared with participants in both control groups. Participants with BN also reported more spending behaviours when compared with the general psychiatric control group. The use of illegal drugs and medication was significantly related to alleged sexual abuse in BN participants. Conclusions: This study concluded that BN is often related to dysregulated behaviours, and clinicians must take into account the multi-impulsive spectrum behaviours of BN in their evaluation and treatment of BN.
  • Dysregulated behaviors in bulimia nervosa – a case-control study
    Publication . Gonçalves, Sónia Ferreira; Machado, Bárbara César; Martins, Carla; Machado, P.
    Background: Bulimia nervosa is often related to self-control difficulties and to self-harm behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of self-injurious behavior, suicide attempts and other behaviors’ related to impulsivity in bulimia nervosa, using two control groups (a healthy group and a general psychiatric group), and also to examine the association between sexual abuse and parasuicide behaviours in bulimia nervosa. Method: Women (N =233) aged between 13 to 38 years old were evaluated using the Risk Factors for Eating Disorders Interview Schedule (RFI; Fairburn et al., 1998). Results: Participants with bulimia nervosa reported more self-injurious behaviours, suicide attempts by drug intake, and poor control in smoking and drugs use compared with participants in both control groups. Bulimia nervosa group also presented more spending behaviors’ compared with the general psychiatric control group. No association was found between sexual abuse and parasuicide behaviors amongst bulimia nervosa participants. Conclusions: This study concluded that BN is commonly related to self-harm behaviours, and clinicians must take into account the multi-impulsive spectrum behaviours of BN in their evaluation and treatment of BN.