Self-Harm in Transitional Age Youth (TAY): Development and Validation of an Assessment Tool and Randomised Feasibility Trial of a Trauma-Focused CBT Intervention Module

AIM: The aim of the study is to develop and validate a self-harm assessment tool and test feasibility of a Trauma-Focused CBT intervention module for Transitional Age Youth (TAY).

 OBJECTIVES:

Objective 1: To develop and validate a new self-harm assessment tool for TAY.

Objective 2: To modify Trauma-Focused CBT intervention module for TAY.

Objective 3: To assess the feasibility of the modified Trauma-Focused CBT intervention module in TAY.

Objective 4: To compare the experimental and the control group on outcome variables immediately after intervention.

 RATIONALE FOR STUDY:

Self-harm is a transdiagnostic problem that is prevalent in late adolescents and young adults. Late adolescence to young adulthood or transitional age youth (TAY) is a period of transition from a child to an adult. This time period has a significant impact on the individual. Problems during this time period increases the risk of psychopathology later in life like depression, anxiety, relationship problems, and occupational difficulties. Self-harm has strong links to trauma as evidenced by theory. The lack of research in India as well as Asia pertaining to self-harm makes it crucial to address this global health crisis. Majority of the tools for assessment have limited evidence for psychometric properties and are not based on the DSM-5 criteria. No tool has been developed or validated in India or translated to Hindi.

 SAMPLING:

Purposive sampling will be used for samples for scale development and validation. A list of potential patients will be prepared and a systematic random sampling will be done to recruit patients for the intervention. The sample will be taken from Psychiatry OPD, AIIMS, New Delhi.