The prevalence of NSSID among men (especially veterans), has been widely understudied because of the stereotype that NSSID is much more common among women. Researchers have found that in population-based studies, rates of NSSI do not differ between males and females

Sex Differences in NSSID Diagnoses

In 2018, researchers reported that 82% of veterans seeking treatment for PTSD
(96% of whom were men) reported a lifetime history of engaging in NSSI. Furthermore, nearly two in three (64%) reported that they had engaged in one or more forms of NSSI during the past two weeks.

Prevalence of NSSID Among Veterans 

- NSSI and NSSID are frequently overlooked conditions in veterans, despite the
fact that NSSI is likely the single strongest prospective predictor of suicide attempts 
- Likewise, despite the high levels of distress and impairment associated with BPD and OCD, both of these conditions are under-diagnosed among
veterans
- OCD is often under-diagnosed in the veteran population due its complexity, lack of knowledge by providers, and attribution of symptoms to PTSD, suggesting that its prevalence in veterans is much higher than previous estimates 

Clinical Implications: NSSID & Veterans

Other than PTSD, researchers found that nearly three fourths (73.6%) of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans screened positive for one or more psychiatric
conditions, half (51.2%) screened positive for three or more, and one in three (34.9% or45/129) screened positive for five or more psychiatric conditions. Similarly, veterans deployed in the Gulf War were found to have approximately double the rates of depression and generalized anxiety disorder in comparison to men in the general population.

Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders among Veterans 

This article identified diagnostic predictors of NSSID within a veteran sample. It represents the first examination of the association between NSSID and psychiatric disorders among veterans. The findings shed light on psychiatric disorders associated with lifetime NSSID in veterans, with special consideration toward obsessive-compulsive disorder as a risk factor for NSSID.

Saint Louis University

Cluster B personality disorders such as: 
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
are at the strongest risk for NSSI. 

However, NSSI is also prevalent among individuals suffering from:
- Anxiety disorders 
- Substance use disorders 
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Individuals with NSSID are more likely to meet diagnostic criteria for multiple psychiatric disorders compared with individuals without NSSID. In addition BPD and depression are the most consistent diagnostic predictors of NSSID. 


NSSID & Other Psychiatric Disorders

Patel, T. A., Mann, A., Blakey, S. M., Aunon, F. M., Calhoun, P. S., Beckham, J. C., & Kimbrel, N. A. (2021). Diagnostic Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder among Veterans with Psychiatric Disorders. Psychiatry research, 296, 113672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113672


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