Self-Harm
Also known as: Self-injury
Methodology & AI Transparency ⓘ
Self-Harm Key Takeaways
Translated by Sarah Jenkins (AI RN Plain-English Translator) at a 7th-grade reading level
- 1 What it does: What is self-harm? Self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person hurts his or her own body on purpose.
- 2 Real-world patient consensus: Diagnostic registry F43.1: Self-Harm is managed within Anxiety & PTSD (aka Self-injury).
- 3 Typical cash cost range: Workup highlights for Self-Harm (F43.1): cognitive-behavioral exposure readiness in Self-Harm (F43.1: evaluation).
- 4 Top reported side effects / signs: Key Anxiety & PTSD biomarkers for Self-Harm (F43.1): GAD-7 Anxiety Severity in Self-Harm (F43.1: Score) & Resting Heart Rate in Self-Harm (F43.1: Variability (HRV)) (Stable upward personal trend (F43.1)).
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What Is Self-Harm?
What is self-harm? Self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person hurts his or her own body on purpose. The injuries may be minor, but sometimes they can be severe. They may leave permanent scars or cause serious health problems. Some examples are: Cutting yourself (such as using a razor blade, knife, or other sharp object to cut your skin) Punching yourself or punching things (like a wall) Burning yourself with cigarettes, matches, or candles Poking objects through body openings Breaking your bones or bruising yourself Self-harm is not a mental disorder. It is a behavior - an unhealthy way to cope with strong feelings.
Pathophysiology, Underlying Causes & Clinical Presentation
Biological expression of Self-Harm (F43.1, Anxiety & PTSD) reflects conditioned fear-extinction deficits [Self-Harm F43.1]. Cross-referenced with NIH MeSH (Self-Injurious Behavior), longitudinal control is benchmarked via GAD-7 Anxiety Severity in Self-Harm (F43.1: Score).
Common Symptoms & Clinical Signs
- • Cutting yourself (such as using a razor blade, knife, or other sharp object to cut your skin)
- • Punching yourself or punching things (like a wall)
- • Presentation of Self-Harm (F43.1): sudden autonomic surges in Self-Harm (F43.1: with racing heart,)
- • Secondary Self-Harm clinical sign: chronic neck, jaw, in Self-Harm (F43.1: and shoulder muscle)
Primary Federal Reference: NIH / National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus Entry ↗
Self-Harm Diagnostic Classification & Lab Markers
| Metric | Verified Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ICD-10-CM Diagnostic Code | F43.1 | WHO / CMS ICD-10-CM Clinical Classification |
| Clinical Specialty Hub | Anxiety, OCD & Trauma Disorders | NIH MedlinePlus Health Topics |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: GAD-7 Anxiety Severity in Self-Harm (F43.1: Score) | < 4 (minimal anxiety) (F43.1) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: Resting Heart Rate in Self-Harm (F43.1: Variability (HRV)) | Stable upward personal trend (F43.1) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: TSH & Ferritin in Self-Harm (F43.1: Rule-Out) | TSH 0.8–2.5 mIU/L; Ferritin > 50 ng/mL (F43.1) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
FDA-Monographed Medications & Public Cash Price Reference for Self-Harm
Treatment selection for Self-Harm depends on clinical severity, diagnostic lab results, and medical history. Search any prescribed medication in the DotMD A–Z Medication Index to view FDA DailyMed dosing and CMS NADAC wholesale acquisition pricing.
Peer-Reviewed Human Clinical Trials & Meta-Analyses (Self-Harm)
| Study & Plain-English Finding | Sample (N) | Rigor | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Insights on Concise Health Risk Tracking-Self Report: Psychometrics within a compared against: What a 278-Participant Study Found Change in clinician-rated suicidal thoughts was reflected. Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) • 2019-02-15 • Randomized Controlled Trial | N = 278 | 93/100 | PMID 30652941 ↗ |
| New Insights on Eptinezumab on self-reported work productivity in adults with migraine and prior: What a 890-Participant Study Found In adults with migraine and prior preventive treatment failure, eptinezumab 100 mg and 300 mg IV every 12 weeks improved absenteeism, presenteeism, work productivity loss, and activity impairment more than placebo. The journal of headache and pain • 2022-12-02 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 890 | 93/100 | PMID 36460983 ↗ |
| New Insights on Cytisinicline for smoking cessation in individuals with self-reported COPD: a: What a 532-Participant Study Found Cytisinicline significantly increased quitting for smokers with and without COPD and was well tolerated. Thorax • 2026-01-15 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 532 | 93/100 | PMID 40962497 ↗ |
| Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Effect of Hypericum Perforatum Oil on Prevention Ecchymosis and Pain Associated Low molecular weight heparin is a drug with anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects. This drug is frequently administered subcutaneously to patients by nurses. Complications such as pain, ecchymosis and hematoma may commonly occur at the i ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NIH NLM) • 2023-06-15 • Completed Human Clinical Trial (NCT) | N = 160 | 89/100 | PMID NCT06367036 ↗ |
| Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Safety profile of self-amplifying mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine ARCT-154 in adults: a Data from this large trial suggest that ARCT-154 is safe and well tolerated. Expert review of vaccines • 2025-12-15 • Phase III Randomized Trial | Multi-cohort | 88/100 | PMID 40195167 ↗ |
Self-Harm Patient Community & “People Like Me” Threads
Filter Self-Harm community threads and patient logs by age, biological sex, dosage, and treatment duration.