Psychoanalytic study adolescents with comorbidity and self-harm V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What does an in-depth study of three contrasting cases inform our understanding of the function of self-harm in three adolescents who have other mental health conditions
IRAS ID
312563
Contact name
Medina Horne
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Essex
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 24 days
Research summary
Self-harm is a growing public health concern. Quantitative studies have provided a generalised view of prevalence and causes, however, there is a scarcity of the qualitative case study approach. Qualitative studies such as this are becoming increasingly relevant to understanding the nature and origins of self-harm as phenomenon arising from internal conflicts, which act as a precedent to self-destructive behaviours. Although self-harm is often linked with depression, there is a paucity of in-depth studies investigating self-harm as symptomatic of other mental health issues and they exclude understanding self-harm in relation to other mental health difficulties. There is also a scarcity of research on the impact of culture on self-harm and case studies in this area are particularly scarce. A Psychoanalytic perspective enables us to address questions such as the diversity in the causality of self-destructive drives as well as comorbidity and culture. The study aims to understand the internal conflicts and destructive ‘phantasies’ detected during Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy treatment within NHS Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). The study uses material from three diverse cases, one of which will contribute to exploring whether cultural conflicts influence the internal dynamics leading to self-harm. The research project will use material after treatment has been completed and this is relevant to the method of using thematic analysis of the data. This research study aims to contribute to practice and psychoanalytical understanding and also inform other services such as CRISIS on the benefits of understanding of self-harm in context of comorbidity and possible cultural conflicts. This is a 3-year research study of a professional doctorate program using written case notes produced from Child & Adolescent therapy which has been completed.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0269
Date of REC Opinion
6 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion