Note: This study is currently only recruiting patients in the hospital.

If you are interested in being notified if this study begins recruiting from the general population, please use the 'I Am Interested' button below.

Kids 10-17 Who Cut Themselves

Non-suicidal self-injury (self-cutting) is common and increases suicide risk by 7-fold, even though kids say they are not doing it to end their lives. We need kids who cut without prior suicide attempts to join our study.

McLean Hospital Child Mental Health Teen Mental Health Suicide
8 hours over 3 visits
Estimated Time Commitment
Male, Female, Transgender Female, Transgender Male, Nonbinary, Gender-expansive, 10-17 years
May Be Eligible
Payment up to $685
May Be Offered
Survey, MRI scan
May Be Required
 
I Am Interested I Am Interested I Am Interested

Enrollment for this study is expected to close on Friday, May 15, 2026

Overview

What we are studying

Non-suicidal self-injury, defined as deliberate destruction of body tissue without intent to die (i.e., self-cutting), is a common problem in children and teens. It is associated with a 7–8 fold increased risk for suicide.


But, we do not know which kids engaged in NSSI will try to commit suicide and which will not.


This study seeks to address 2 important questions:



  1. Why do kids cut themselves?

  2. What is the brain/behavior mechanism of why some kids who cut themselves will try to commit suicide AND why others will not?


Why it is important

Suicide is the second leading cause of death starting at age 10 through age 33. Cutting is found in >40% of kids seen in the ER for mental health problems.  Despite much work, we have no reliable markers (scans or tests) to accurately predict if an individual child will try to kill themself and might need inpatient psychiatric care vs. which kids might not.


With your help, we could begin to change that by identifying brain and behavior mechanisms of NSSI/cutting and suicide.


What we hope to accomplish

This study will answer 2 questions:



  1. Why do kids engage in NSSI/cut themselves?

  2. What are the brain/behavior mechanisms of why some kids try to commit suicide and why some do not?

Principal Investigator

Daniel Dickstein, MD

McLean Hospital

Public Profile

Project Contact

Click I Am Interested "I Am Interested" "I Am Interested" to get started. If you have questions, contact:

PediMIND Program

pedimind@mgb.org
(617) 855-3900

Who can participate


  • 10- to 17-year-old biological males

  • 10- to 12-year-old biological females

  • No braces or implanted metal

  • Engage in non-suicidal self-injury (including self-cutting) but have not tried to commit suicide

Who cannot participate


  • Kids with braces or iron-containing metal implants (fillings are OK)

  • Kids who have already attempted suicide

  • Kids with IQ less than 80

What you may be asked to do

Participants complete interviews and IQ test to see if they are eligible for our study.


NSSI volunteers who are eligible will:



  • Complete additional questionnaires

  • Play some computer games

  • Have a spit/saliva sample for DNA/genes


Then for 1 week they will do mood ratings by smartphone app.


Then they will have an MRI brain scan.


After this, they will have brief (30- to 45-minute) follow-up visits at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months involving interviews and mood ratings.


Participants are paid based on how much of the study they complete.


Project activities may include:

  • Survey
  • MRI scan

Estimated Time Commitment

8 hours over 3 visits

What You May Get

Participants receive a summary letter of their initial interview and IQ screen.


Participants are compensated for their time based on how much of the study they qualify for and complete.

Location

McLean Hospital
115 Mill Street, Belmont MA

Map it!


Travel

  • Parking available

Travel and Parking Details

In-person visits including behavioral task/computer games and MRI will be at McLean Hospital.


Some interviews will be remote.

Additional Information

Project Website

http://www.pedimind.org


Participating Institutions


Funding Source

  • NIH or Other Federal
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