Developing and Evaluating Novel Treatments for Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Within Swedish Health Care

Abstract

Nonsuicidal self-injury is common and associated with subsequent adverse outcomes. Early interventions may prevent suicide among other outcomes. Available treatment options are comprehensive and time-consuming and may not be readily available to everyone in need. Emotion regulation group therapy (ERGT)
and emotion regulation individual therapy (ERITA) were designed to address the need of effective short-term, focused, and easily
implementable treatments for adults and adolescents with selfinjurious behaviors. A Swedish research program comprising five psychological treatment studies has been launched, among them the development of an online version of ERITA. Results from the first three studies provides promising information about feasibility,
acceptability, and utility of ERGT and ERITA. Study IV and Study V will utilize randomized controlled designs to examine treatment
efficacy of online ERITA. The present article reviews and discusses methodological considerations, results, experiences, and implications for future research.