Systematic Review of Evidence supporting Digital Interven-tions for Adolescents struggling with NSSI
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Background: Adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a UK public health concern. There is limited capacity for treatment due to long waiting lists and high intensity treatments. Digital interventions show promise as a low-intensity alternative, yet no review has considered their effectiveness for this population.Aims: This review aims to investigate the effectiveness of digital interventions for adolescent NSSI by assessing the ‘gold-standard’ evidence and theoretical basis.Methods: Four databases were searched for ‘gold-standard’ research. Relevant data were extracted and the risk of bias assessed using Cochrane approved tools.Results: Five RCTs (3 interventions) were included in this review. Overall, there was a lack of significant effect on adolescent NSSI suggesting no effect of digital treatments. Coding using the BCW outlined a strong psychotherapeutic foundations and highlighted the potential benefits of social support.Limitations: A small number of potentially biased studies were suitable for this review. Due to this and the limited findings, few conclusions can be drawn. Conclusion: The paucity of ‘gold-standard’ evidence and lack of significant effect highlighted the need for more research into adolescent NSSI. Future research should aim to expand the evidence base for treatments and explore the potential of social support in digital interventions.
