Nurse-led psychoeducational intervention in adolescents with self-harm and their families: a pre-post study in a child and adolescent mental health unit
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5538/2385-703X.2026.31.16Keywords:
Psychoeducation, Self-Injurious Behavior, Adolescence, Nursing, Mental HealthAbstract
Objective: to evaluate the association of a nurse-led psychoeducational intervention, aimed at adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury and their families, with changes in attitudes towards self-injurious behaviour and in readiness to change, in a child and adolescent mental health unit (CAMHU). Material and methods: a pre-post observational study carried out in routine clinical practice. A structured psychoeducational intervention was delivered over two sessions, with family participation. Attitudes related to giving up self-injury and stage of readiness to change were assessed, before and after the intervention, using scales complementary to the clinical interview. Results: 55 adolescents attended at the CAMHU took part, predominantly female. The most frequent method of self-injury was cutting, generally on a weekly basis. Anxiety, frustration, difficulties in emotional regulation and self-punishment were identified as associated factors. After the intervention, an increase was observed in attitudes of hope, safety, intention, capacity and resolution, as well as greater use of alternatives for managing self-injurious behaviour. Conclusions: in this clinical sample, the nurse-led psychoeducational intervention aimed at adolescents with self-harm and their families was associated with improvements in attitudes towards giving up self-injurious behaviour and in the adoption of alternative strategies, reinforcing the role of nursing in the comprehensive management of self-harm in adolescence.
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