Interdisciplinarity and Self-injury: Toward an Inclusive Research and Treatment Paradigm

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Description

Background: Historically, the research and treatment of self-injury has been disciplinarily siloed. As a result, the behaviour is understood and treated differently among individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. We explore the potential for an interdisciplinary research and practice agenda in self-injury.

Method: We conducted 10 focus groups with experts in self-injury and analysed discussions that resulted from the question: “What is the role of interdisciplinarity in the study and treatment of self-injury?”

Results: Through a reflexive thematic analysis we came up with actionable and positively-oriented themes: Interdisciplinarity at the Individual Level, Context of Needed Systems-Level Change, Highlighting Workforce Support, Strategic Use of Implementation and Dissemination Science, and The Pursuit of Integration. Each theme includes several subthemes that describe specific strategies.

Conclusions: An interdisciplinary approach is not only possible but worthwhile and would be particularly beneficial to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities engaging in self-injurious behaviour.

Suggested Citation

Roberts, C. L., Larsh, M., & Symons, F. (2024). Interdisciplinarity and self-injury: Toward an inclusive research and treatment paradigm. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 49(4), 378–390. https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2024.2370564

Details

Date
2024 
Type
Peer-Reviewed Article 
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Online

Topics

  • Health and safety
    • Health and wellness