DSM Update: Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder, or a Clinical Specifier?

DSM Update: Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder, or a Clinical Specifier?

Author: Nicholas J. Westers Psy.D. ABPP August 29, 2025 Duration: 1:03:20
Drs. Greg Lengel, Maria Zetterqvist, Amy Brausch, and Jason Washburn explain why they now advocate for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm to be considered a clinical specifier rather than a disorder in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Dr. Nicholas Westers, a clinical psychologist and professor, hosts The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health. This podcast moves beyond simple questions to explore the complex realities of self-injury, offering a space for nuanced conversation often missing from public discourse. Each episode is built on collaboration with the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury, ensuring the content is both credible and compassionate. You'll hear from leading researchers and clinicians who share the latest scientific understanding, but crucially, the series also centers voices with lived experience. These personal narratives provide essential context, helping to humanize the statistics and theories discussed. The dialogue tackles difficult topics, from the underlying psychological functions of self-harm to practical guidance on how to support someone who is struggling. It’s designed for anyone seeking a deeper, evidence-based comprehension-whether you're a mental health professional, an educator, a family member, or someone on a personal journey of understanding. By weaving together expert insight and personal story, this podcast fosters a more informed and empathetic perspective on a deeply misunderstood aspect of mental health.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 71

The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health
Podcast Episodes
Disclosures of Self-Injury, with Dr. Brooke Ammerman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:18
Brooke Ammerman, PhD, from the University of Notre Dame provides insight into how individuals who self-injure come to decide to disclose their self-injury and self-harm and suggests helpful ways to respond to self-injury…
Self-Injury and the Internet, with Dr. Stephen Lewis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:43
Stephen Lewis, PhD, from the University of Guelph in Canada and Immediate Past President of the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS) discusses the state of health information about self-injury on the…
Self-Injury Stigma and Language, with Dr. Penelope Hasking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:15
Penelope Hasking, PhD, from Curtin University in Australia and current President of the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS) discusses how the words we use to describe self-injury and those who engag…
Parenting Youth Who Self-Injure, with Dr. Janis Whitlock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:09
Janis Whitlock, PhD, from Cornell University and Senior Advisor for The JED Foundation explains what parents and caregivers should look for if they suspect their child is engaging in self-injury. She also discusses how c…
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury vs. Suicide, with Dr. Jennifer Muehlenkamp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:18
Jennifer Muehlenkamp, PhD, from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire describes the difference between suicidal and nonsuicidal self-harm and explains how we came to use the term “nonsuicidal self-injury” (NSSI). She al…
Why Do People Self-Injure? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:02
Why do people self-injure or self-harm? Especially when it seems to contradict our instinct for self-preservation? The simple answer is that for the majority of those who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), it help…