Current Projects

The primary goal of our research is to understand why people engage in behaviors that are harmful to themselves and to translate the knowledge gained into better methods for assessing and treating harmful behaviors. Our research is multidisciplinary and we use a range of complementary methodological approaches (e.g., epidemiologic surveys, laboratory-based experiments, clinic-based studies) to better understand how these behaviors develop, how to predict them, and how to prevent their occurrence. Several recent and ongoing projects are described below.

Understanding the Nature of Suicidal Behavior: Cross-National Studies
 One of the greatest obstacles to studying suicidal behavior is that although it is a leading cause of death, it occurs at a fairly low base-rate in the general population. As a result, very large samples of people are required to study suicidal behavior in a detailed way. To address this long-standing challenge, we are studying the prevalence, characteristics, and risk & protective factors for suicidal behaviors (i.e., suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts) using data from a coordinated series of nationally representative surveys conducted in 28 countries around the world. This research is being carried out as part of the WHO World Mental Health Survey Initiative. Our primary questions include: What is the prevalence of suicidal behaviors around the world? When do these behaviors typically begin? What factors increase the risk of suicidal behaviors? This study is providing an unprecedented opportunity to learn about the nature and risk and protective factors of this leading cause of death. This work, which is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, is described in several recent articles in the Washington Post and Psychiatric News, and in several of the sample papers listed below.

Sample publications:

Nock, et al. (2008). Suicide and suicidal behaviors. Epidemiologic Reviews, 30, 133-154. (paper)

Nock, et al. (2008). Cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts. British Journal of Psychiatry, 192, 98-105. (paper), (data supplement)

Nock, et al. (2009). Cross-national analysis of the associations among mental disorders and suicidal behavior: Findings from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. PLoS Medicine, 6(8): e1000123. (paper)

Nock, et al. (2009). Mental disorders, comorbidity, and suicidal behaviors: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Molecular Psychiatry. (paper)

Nock, M. K., & Kessler, R. C. (2006). Prevalence of and risk factors for suicide attempts versus suicide gestures: Analysis of the National Comorbidity Survey. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 115, 616-623. (paper)

 

Capturing the Real-Time Occurrence of Suicidal & Self-Injurious Behavior
We also are interested in learning about the natural occurrence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors as they arise in real-time. Toward this end, we are conducting studies using electronic diaries and ambulatory physiological monitoring devices to measure the frequency, duration, triggers, and consequences of suicidal/self-injurious thoughts and behaviors as they occur in everyday life outside the research laboratory. In this work, we also are examining the experience of other self-destructive behaviors, such as: bingeing, purging, alcohol and substance use, and risky sexual behaviors. This research is funded by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Talley Fund of Harvard University. Some of this research was described in a recent issue of Harvard Magazine.

Sample publication:

Nock, M. K., Prinstein, M. J., & Sterba, S. (2009). Revealing the form and function of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: A real-time ecological assessment study among adolescents and young adults. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118, 816-827. (paper), (supporting material)

 

Understanding the Psychological Processes that Lead to Suicidal & Self-Injurious Behavior
In addition to describing the nature of and risk factors for suicidal/self-injurious behaviors, we are developing and testing theoretical models that explain why people intentionally hurt themselves. We are especially focused on psychological factors that may influence the development and maintenance of such behaviors. We test different aspects of our explanatory model by conducting laboratory-based studies of a range of factors that we believe may help to explain the occurrence of suicidal and self-injurious behaviors, including: stressful life events (e.g., childhood abuse), high emotional/physiological reactivity, poor distress tolerance, and poor problem-solving.

Sample publications:

Nock. (2009). Why do people hurt themselves? New insights into the nature and functions of self-injury. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18, 78-83. (paper)

Cha & Nock. (2009). Emotional intelligence is a protective factor for suicidal behavior. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 48, 422-430. (paper)

Nock & Mendes. (2008). Physiological arousal, distress tolerance, and social problem solving deficits among adolescent self-injurers. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 28-38. (paper)

Nock & Banaji. (2007). Prediction of suicide ideation and attempts among adolescents using a brief performance-based test. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75, 707-715. (paper)

Nock & Prinstein. (2005). Contextual features and behavioral functions of self-mutilation among adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 114, 140-146. (paper)

Developing New Methods of Measuring and Modifying Clinical Behavior Problems
We ultimately are interested in using what we learn to help individuals struggling with these behavior problems; therefore, we are conducting several projects aimed at developing novel approaches to the measurement and modification of clinical behavior problems. One example is our current work conducted in local hospital emergency departments and inpatient units in which we are using some of the performance-based cognitive tests developed in our laboratory research to measure the cognitive state of people who have just made a suicide attempt. This work can help us to better understand the psychological state associated with making suicide attempts, and also may lead to improved methods for detecting and predicting suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This research is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Norlein Foundation. Some of this work was described in a recent issue of the Boston Globe Magazine.

Sample publications:

Nock, et al. (in press). Measuring the “suicidal mind:” Implicit cognition predicts suicidal behavior. Psychological Science.

Barlow, D. H., & Nock, M. K. (2009). Why can't we be more idiographic in our research? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4, 19-21. (paper)

Nock. (2007). Conceptual and design essentials for evaluating mechanisms of clinical change. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 31, 4S-12S . (paper)

Nock & Kazdin. (2005). Randomized controlled trial of a brief intervention for increasing participation in parent management training. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 872-879. (paper)