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Psychopathological Predictors of Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviour of Adolescence and Young Adults: from the Experience of the Department of Medical and Psychological Assistance with the Helpline

Psychopathological Predictors of Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviour of Adolescence and Young Adults: from the Experience of the Department of Medical and Psychological Assistance with the Helpline

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Recieved: 05/20/2024

Accepted: 02/03/2026

Published: 03/13/2026

Keywords: suicidal behaviour; non-suicidal self-injury; adolescence; auto-aggression; self-harm

Pages: 109–119

DOI: 10.11621/npj.2026.0208

Available online: 13.03.2026

To cite this article:

Nichiporenko, N.P., Kalmykov, Yu.A. , Mukhamadieva, G.F., Nafikova, A.Yu. (2026). Psychopathological Predictors of Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviour of Adolescence and Young Adults: from the Experience of the Department of Medical and Psychological Assistance with the Helpline. National Psychological Journal, 21(2) , 109–119. https://doi.org/10.11621/npj.2026.0208

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Issue 2, 2026

Nichiporenko, N.P. Federal Scientific Center of Psychological and Multidisciplinary Research

Kalmykov, Yu.A. Kazan State Medical University, Republican Clinical Psychiatric Hospital named after academician V.M. Bekhterev

Mukhamadieva, G.F. Kazan State Medical University, Republican Clinical Psychiatric Hospital named after academician V.M. Bekhterev

Nafikova, A.Yu. Kazan State Medical University

Abstract

Background. The analysis of the statistics of requests shows the high demand for medical and psychological assistance among young people with the experience of self-harm. Every year in the Republic of Tatarstan, the department of medical and psychological assistance of the Republican Clinical Psychiatric Hospital processes more than 10,000 telephone calls to the Helpline. The proportion of cases with a high suicide risk is 5.3%, of which adolescents and youth account for almost 40%: 12–17 years old (9.2%), 18–19 years old (7.5%) and 20–29 years old (22.2%).

Objectives. The aim of the work is to identify psychopathological predictors of suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviour in adolescence and young adults who sought for the help of a psychotherapist in the department of medical and psychological assistance with the Helpline.

Study Participants. 103 patients aged 12 to 25 years, of which 38 were male (36.9%) formed the research sample. The age groups of 12–17 years and 18–25 years were analysed separately.

Methods. Analysis of the statistics of appeals, study of anamnesis, standardised clinical diagnostic interview developed on the basis of the questionnaire Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were applied.

Results. The nosological analysis in the sample of 18–25 years old patients revealed the highest prevalence of borderline personality disorder in the group of patients with mixed suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviour. A depressive episode is a specific predictor of auto-aggressive behaviour in general, though it does not predict the suicidal or non-suicidal nature of self-harm. Gender is a risk factor for suicidal behaviour (young men 12–17 years old) and for suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviour (girls regardless of age). The symptomatic analysis revealed signs that can be used as markers of an auto-aggressive pattern.

Conclusions. The clinical predictors and psychopathological predictor-markers represent a predictive value in the working conditions of medical and psychological care departments with a telephone format of counselling to assess the risks of suicidal and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviour. The specific markers are “feeling of hopelessness of the future”, “restless and anxious sleep”, “thoughts about not wanting to live” and “feeling of worthlessness”.

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To cite this article:

Nichiporenko, N.P., Kalmykov, Yu.A. , Mukhamadieva, G.F., Nafikova, A.Yu.. Psychopathological Predictors of Suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviour of Adolescence and Young Adults: from the Experience of the Department of Medical and Psychological Assistance with the Helpline. // National Psychological Journal 2026. 2. Pages109–119. doi: 10.11621/npj.2026.0208

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