Journal of International Psychiatry

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a very common public health problem, and its prevalence is very high all over the world. However, there is still a lack of treatment for NSSI. In this paper, from the perspective of neural regulation technology, the possible new therapeutic methods for NSSI treatment were discussed. Previous literature had shown that Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), vagus nervi stimulation (VNS), or deep brain stimulation (DBS) may be effective for NSSI behavior with fewer clinical side effects. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are still needed to evaluate its efficacy and safety, and to explore appropriate therapeutic targets, stimulus parameters and mechanisms of action.

Neural regulation technology; Electroconvulsive therapy; Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation; Transcranial direct current stimulation; Vagus nerve stimulation; Deep brain stimulation; Non-suicidal self-injury; review