Developmental influences in NSSI and eating pathology

Developmental psychopathology perspectives can help in formulating better conceptualizations of the origins of factors that impact the onset, maintenance, and treatment of EDs and NSSI. This chapter examines several specific vulnerabilities for both outcomes. The broader literature on developmental psychopathology theories is explored, including the importance of temporal order of variables, transactional associations, and concepts such as equifinality and multifinality that may be important for understanding the development of NSSI and/or EDs in youth. In addition, this chapter reviews several specific methodological issues (e.g., design, sampling) that are important to consider when studying NSSI and EDs among youth. Finally, a clinical vignette helps to demonstrate how NSSI and EDs can co-occur as a result of similar risks and vulnerabilities during childhood and adolescence. Throughout this chapter, there are suggested areas for future research (e.g., comorbidity rates between NSSI and EDs among youth) that will be important to assess using a developmental lens in the coming years as well as suggestions for clinicians wanting to practice in a developmentally sensitive manner.