Why Self-Harm Haunts Youth with ADHD: Causes, Signs, and Treatment

Editor’s Note: Self-harm impacts an estimated 17% of teens worldwide.1 Among youth with ADHD, especially girls, the prevalence of self-injury is significantly increased, in part, because hallmark characteristics of ADHD such as impulsivity and emotional dysregulation can compel self-injurious behavior.Dramatically higher rates of self-harm among youth with ADHD are reflected in many studies, including the Berkeley Girls ADHD Longitudinal Study (BGALS), which found that girls with combined-type ADHD are 2.5 times more likely than their neurotypical peers to engage in non-suicidal self-injury, and 3 to 4 times more likely to attempt suicide.

A recent study found that, among self-harming teens, the incidence of hyperactivity and emotional dysregulation were so much higher than in the control group that the researchers concluded that self-harm may serve as a first presentation of ADHD, especially among girls who might otherwise go undiagnosed.2 They further suggested that all teens who present with self-harm should be screened for ADHD.The newest research has revealed that rates of self-harm among youth with ADHD may be even higher than past studies suggested.

A 2024 study published in Psychiatry Research3 that involved 5,100 youth in Australia found that subjects with ADHD were 25 times more likely to self-harm than were their neurotypical peers.For some people, self-injury is an effective way to regulate unwanted emotions like anxiety and sadness, which they feel very, very strongly in their bodies.

For some individuals, self-harm may bring them back into their body if they feel disassociated or emotionally numb.Sometimes, the function of the self-injury is to communicate needs, or for kids to feel in control of their.