DIGEST - Volume 10, Issue 3-FULL DIGEST

11 TPC Digest Read full article and references: Sitton, M., Du Rocher Schudlich, T., Byrne, C., Ochrach, C. M., & Erwin, S. E. A. (2020). Family functioning and self-injury in treatment-seeking adolescents: Implications for counselors. The Professional Counselor , 10 (3), 351–364. doi :10.15241/ms.10.3.351 | TPC Digest T he purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the nature of the family environment in adolescents with traits of BPD, their engagement in SIB, and the predictive relationship between family environment and SIB. Specifically, we utilized a sample of community-based adolescents who sought treatment for symptoms of BPD. We assessed multiple indicators of family functioning (listed above) from the perspective of the adolescent and one caretaker, most often the adolescent’s birth mother. We also conducted separate analyses for SIB done with suicidal intent (i.e., suicide attempts), without suicidal intent (i.e., nonsuicidal self-injury), and with ambivalence toward life (i.e., self-injury that is neither strictly nonsuicidal nor suicidal). We found that adolescents and their caretakers mostly agreed on their reports of their family environment; the only statistical difference between reports was in communication (e.g., “when someone [in my family] is upset the others know why”) and behavioral control (e.g., “[my family does not] hold any rules or standards ”). Notably, both reports indicated distress in several areas of family functioning, particularly in problem-solving, communication, roles, and affective involvement. We also found high rates of engagement in SIB—particularly nonsuicidal SIB—in the adolescents; we provide a detailed report of the methods and lifetime rates of SIB in the full article. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship between family functioning and SIB. Problem-solving, conflict, and adolescent- reported communication seemed especially relevant to the prediction of nonsuicidal and ambivalent SIB. Future studies should further examine these indicators of family functioning in relation to SIB across time. Notably, we were unable to statistically predict suicidal SIB; future studies should also further examine the relationship between family functioning and suicide attempts. We conclude that family functioning is relevant to engagement in SIB (particularly nonsuicidal and ambivalent SIB) in treatment-seeking adolescents with traits of BPD. Because of this, family environments should be considered in risk assessments as well as in treatment. Family-based intervention may be especially beneficial in conjunction with skills training for adolescents with traits of BPD so that the intrapersonal and interpersonal changes can be implemented by the individual as well as the entire family. This practice aligns with family systems theory—specifically, to successfully treat an adolescent, one must address concerning patterns of behavior within the family that may be contributing to individual patterns of behavior in the adolescent. Further implications for counselors are discussed in the article. Melissa Sitton, MS, is a doctoral student at Southern Methodist University. Tina Du Rocher Schudlich, PhD, MHP, is a professor at Western Washington University. Christina Byrne, PhD, is an associate professor at Western Washington University. Chase M. Ochrach, MS, is a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Seneca E. A. Erwin, BS, is a doctoral student at the University of Northern Colorado. Correspondence may be addressed to Tina Du Rocher Schudlich, 516 High St., MS 9172, Bellingham, WA 98225, tina.schudlich@wwu.edu.