Study on the “DIARY” as Clinical Pathway of Diagnosis and Treatment for NSSI in Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine in China

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents is a common clinical condition among young people, often associated with adolescent depression or bipolar disorder. The clinical diagnosis and treatment remain challending, leading to issues such as diagnostic inconsistency and poor therapeutic outcomes. We invited a panel of Chinese experts from the fields of psychiatry, clinical psychology, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for emotional disorders, integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, and evidence-based medicine. Based on clinical practice, particularly in relation to adolescent depression and bipolar disorder, we have developed a clinical pathway for the integrated management of adolescent NSSI in China. Guided by principles of practicality, scientific validity, cost-effectiveness, and ease of memorization, this clinical pathway is named “DIARY.” It offers a constructive approach for the comprehensive, in-depth, and effective treatment of adolescent NSSI. This is the first clinical pathway for NSSI, and it is a combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. There may be shortcomings, but it provides a foundation for developing more comprehensive clinical pathway in treatments for NSSI in the future.