Understanding how to help adolescents who self-harm
Official title: Examining Mechanisms of Change in Adolescent Self-Inflicted Injury
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-11059950 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how we can help teenagers who hurt themselves by teaching them skills to manage their emotions better, and it will use brain scans and real-time check-ins to see how stress affects these skills in their everyday lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $199,481 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH135225-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11059950 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who are experiencing self-inflicted injuries or emotional dysregulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are outside the age range of 12 to 20 or who do not experience self-harming behaviors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the underlying mechanisms that contribute to self-inflicted injuries among adolescents, focusing on how therapeutic skills can be effectively taught and retained in daily life. The study will utilize advanced techniques such as fMRI to explore brain functions related to skill acquisition and ecological momentary assessment to measure real-time emotional responses. By examining the impact of life stress on these skills, the research aims to identify effective strategies for improving emotional regulation in young people. The findings could lead to more accessible and practical interventions for adolescents struggling with self-harm.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapeutic approaches that help adolescents manage their emotions and reduce self-harming behaviors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar therapeutic approaches, but this study aims to explore new mechanisms that have not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaufman, Erin Anne — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Kaufman, Erin Anne
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Evaluating a new injectable contraceptive for women
This study is testing a new long-lasting birth control shot called levonorgestrel butanoate, especially for women who are overweight and at risk for blood clots, to see if it works well and is safe without the added hormones found in other methods.
-
Understanding how cells respond to changes in membrane tension
This study looks at how yeast cells react when their outer layer gets stretched or squeezed due to changes in their environment, helping us understand how they stay healthy and function properly.
-
A program to lead and conduct clinical trials for gastrointestinal cancers.
This study is all about finding better treatments for gastrointestinal cancers, and it invites patients to join exciting clinical trials at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, where expert doctors are working together to discover new therapies that could help improve their health.
-
New treatment for high phosphate levels in kidney disease patients
This study is testing a new way to help people with chronic kidney disease and those on dialysis lower their high phosphate levels in the blood by using special materials that can quickly and safely remove excess phosphate, offering a better option than current treatments.
-
Testing new treatments to help manage epilepsy
This study is looking at new treatments and devices to help people with epilepsy, especially those who have trouble with their current medications, to see if they can better control their seizures and improve their daily lives.
-
Exploring how flexible emotion regulation affects stress and emotional disorders in ethnic minority college students
This study looks at how college students from different ethnic backgrounds handle their feelings when faced with everyday stress, like discrimination and money worries, to see how this affects their anxiety and depression, and it aims to provide helpful insights for them.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.