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Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury
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About Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury
Scale Name
Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS)
Author Details
Elizabeth D. Klonsky, Theodore M. Olino
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent issue, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Often shrouded in secrecy and shame, NSSI presents a complex challenge for both individuals and mental health professionals. In 2008, psychologists Elizabeth D. Klonsky and Theodore M. Olino sought to shed light on this complex behavior by developing a comprehensive tool: the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS).
Born from extensive research and clinical experience, the ISAS emerged as a vital tool for understanding and assessing NSSI. It goes beyond simply acknowledging the act of self-harm, delving deeper into the motivations and functions behind it. This groundbreaking tool aimed to empower clinicians and researchers to gain a nuanced understanding of the individual’s lived experience with NSSI, ultimately paving the way for more effective interventions and support.
The ISAS comprises two key sections:
Section I: Behaviors
This section acts as a window into the individual’s past, asking how frequently they engaged in 12 common NSSI behaviors, such as cutting, burning, scratching, and hair pulling. By quantifying the prevalence of these behaviors, the ISAS provides a baseline for understanding the scope and severity of the issue.
Section II: Functions
Moving beyond the “what,” this section delves into the “why.” Through a series of statements, the ISAS explores the reasons and purposes behind NSSI, categorizing them into various functions:
- Intrapersonal Functions: Managing emotions, seeking physical sensations, punishing oneself, or escaping dissociation.
- Interpersonal Functions: Communicating distress, getting attention, or manipulating others.
- Sensory Functions: Relieving tension, seeking physical sensations, or grounding oneself.
By mapping these functions, the ISAS sheds light on the individual’s unique relationship with NSSI. It reveals whether they use self-harm as a coping mechanism for emotional distress, a means of communication or manipulation, or a way to experience physical sensations.
This multifaceted approach cemented the ISAS as a game-changer in the field of NSSI research and treatment. It offered clinicians a validated tool to comprehensively assess individuals, tailor interventions to address their specific motivations, and ultimately move towards effective recovery.
So, while the scars of NSSI may often remain hidden, the ISAS helps break through the silence and illuminate the underlying complexities of this behavior. It serves as a powerful instrument for understanding, supporting, and ultimately healing those struggling with NSSI.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
The ISAS can be administered in various ways, depending on the context and goals of its use. Here’s a breakdown of the essential steps and considerations:
Preparation:
- Setting: Ensure a quiet and private space where the individual feels comfortable discussing potentially sensitive topics.
- Materials: You’ll need copies of the ISAS questionnaire, answer sheets, pens, and any available resources for emotional support.
- Consent: Clearly explain the purpose of the ISAS, how the information will be used, and the individual’s right to not answer any questions they’re uncomfortable with. Obtain informed consent.
Instructions:
- Read the Instructions: Go through the directions with the individual, ensuring they understand how to rate each statement and complete the sections.
- Section I: Behaviors: Guide the individual through Section I, answering any questions about the listed behaviors.
- Section II: Functions: Explain the categories of functions and encourage the individual to rate each statement honestly based on their experience.
- Clarification and Validation: Address any questions or concerns that arise during the administration. Acknowledge the sensitive nature of NSSI and validate the individual’s experiences.
Reliability and Validity
The Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) has been extensively studied and demonstrates strong evidence for both reliability and validity, making it a widely accepted and trusted tool for researchers and clinicians working with NSSI.
- Internal Consistency: The ISAS sub-scales and total score show consistently high alpha coefficients, indicating strong internal consistency within each section and across the entire questionnaire.
- Test-Retest Reliability: The ISAS scores remain relatively stable over time when re-administered with appropriate intervals (e.g., weeks or months), showcasing reliable measurement of NSSI behaviors and their functions.
- Construct Validity: The ISAS demonstrates convergent validity, correlating significantly with other established measures of NSSI and related constructs like depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. It also shows divergent validity, not significantly correlating with unrelated measures like self-esteem or social support.
- Content Validity: The items in the ISAS were carefully developed through literature review, expert consultation, and pilot testing, ensuring they adequately capture the range of NSSI behaviors and their potential functions.
- Criterion Validity: The ISAS scores have been found to discriminate between clinical and non-clinical populations, as well as those with different severities of NSSI symptoms, supporting its validity in identifying and differentiating cases.
Available Versions
45-Items
Reference
Klonsky, E. D., & Olino, T. M. (2008). Identifying clinically distinct subgroups of self-injurers among young adults: a latent class analysis. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 76(1), 22.
Klonsky, E. D., & Glenn, C. R. (2009). Assessing the functions of non-suicidal self-injury: Psychometric properties of the Inventory of Statements About Self-injury (ISAS). Journal of psychopathology and behavioral assessment, 31, 215-219.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the ISAS?
A: The ISAS is a questionnaire used to assess non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors and their functions.
Q: What does it measure?
A: The ISAS measures: Frequency and types of NSSI behaviors (cutting, burning, etc.)
Reasons for engaging in NSSI (managing emotions, seeking attention, etc.)
Q: Who uses the ISAS?
A: Clinicians and researchers use the ISAS to: Diagnose and understand NSSI. Track progress in NSSI treatment. Conduct research on NSSI
Q: Is it reliable and valid?
A: Yes, the ISAS has strong evidence for both reliability and validity.
Q: Is it a diagnostic tool?
A: No, the ISAS cannot diagnose NSSI on its own. It should be used in conjunction with other assessments.
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