Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29196062›Full record

SynthesisThe lancet. Psychiatry2018

Childhood maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Richard T Liu, Katie M Scopelliti, Sarah K Pittman, Alejandra S Zamora

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The lancet. Psychiatry, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 154 papers, 20 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
154citing papers in PubMed, 20 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

154 citing papers in PubMed, 20 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  7. Childhood maltreatment and the risk of eating disorders: a meta-analysis of observational studies.Neuropsychiatrie : Klinik, Diagnostik, Therapie und Rehabilitation : Organ der Gesellschaft Osterreichischer Nervenarzte und Psychiater · 2025
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  15. Interventions for self-harm in children and adolescents.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021
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94 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Richard T LiuDepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. Electronic address: rtliupsych@gmail.com.
Katie M ScopellitiDepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Sarah K PittmanDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Alejandra S ZamoraDepartment of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.

Funding

Life Stressors, Impulsivity, and Adolescent Suicidal BehaviorR01MH101138 · NIMH · EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL · PI LIU, RICHARD T · 2014 to 2018
$2.0M
Modulating impulsivity in suicidal adolescents with tDCS: A proof concept studyR21MH112055 · NIMH · EMMA PENDLETON BRADLEY HOSPITAL · PI LIU, RICHARD T · 2017 to 2018
$394k
NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH101138NIMH NIH HHS R21 MH112055
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNon-suicidal self-injury is being increasingly recognised as a prominent public health concern. Identification of early and modifiable risk factors is necessary to advance the screening and intervention efforts, particularly early detection of at-risk individuals. We aimed to examine childhood maltreatment, including its specific subtypes, in relation to non-suicidal self-injury.

methodsWe did a comprehensive meta-analysis of childhood maltreatment (overall, sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect, and emotional abuse and neglect) in association with non-suicidal self-injury. We also provided a qualitative review of mediators and moderators of this association. We identified relevant articles published from inception to Sept 25, 2017, through a systematic search of Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. We extracted continuous and categorical data and assessed for potential moderators using ten study characteristics. We generated random-effects models for analysis and evaluated for publication bias.

findingsWe identified 71 publications that met eligibility criteria. Overall childhood maltreatment was associated with non-suicidal self-injury (odds ratio 3·42, 95% CI 2·74-4·26), and effect sizes for maltreatment subtypes ranged from 1·84 (1·45-2·34) for childhood emotional neglect to 3·03 (2·56-3·54) for childhood emotional abuse. Publication bias was not evident, except in the case of childhood emotional neglect. Across multiple maltreatment subtypes, we found stronger associations with non-suicidal self-injury in non-clinical samples.

interpretationWith the exception of childhood emotional neglect, childhood maltreatment and its subtypes are associated with non-suicidal self-injury. Screening of childhood maltreatment history in non-suicidal self-injury risk assessments might hold particular value in community settings, and increased attention to childhood emotional abuse is warranted.

fundingNational Institute of Mental Health.

Indexed as

AdultAdult Survivors of Child AbuseChildChild AbuseHumansPsychopathologyRisk AssessmentSelf-Injurious Behavior

Identifiers

PMID29196062
PMCPMC5743605

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.