Yu DL, Jin LY, Li H. From correlation to intervention: Translating the psychological network of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury into clinical practice. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(9): 116145 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.116145]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Hong Li, PhD, Professor, Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education, No. 55 Zhongshan West Avenue, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong Province, China. lihong_psych@m.scnu.edu.cn
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Psychiatry
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editorial
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Yu DL, Jin LY, Li H. From correlation to intervention: Translating the psychological network of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury into clinical practice. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(9): 116145 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.116145]
World J Psychiatry. Sep 19, 2026; 16(9): 116145 Published online Sep 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.116145
From correlation to intervention: Translating the psychological network of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury into clinical practice
De-Lin Yu, Ling-Ying Jin, Hong Li
De-Lin Yu, Ling-Ying Jin, Hong Li, Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong Province, China
De-Lin Yu, Ling-Ying Jin, Hong Li, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: Yu DL designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; Yu DL and Jin LY contributed to the writing, and editing the manuscript, illustrations, and review of literature; Li H contributed to the discussion and design of the manuscript; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
Supported by the Ministry of Education Key Projects of Philosophy and Social Sciences Research, No. 21JZD063.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Hong Li, PhD, Professor, Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education, No. 55 Zhongshan West Avenue, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong Province, China. lihong_psych@m.scnu.edu.cn
Received: November 4, 2025 Revised: December 1, 2025 Accepted: February 2, 2026 Published online: September 19, 2026 Processing time: 290 Days and 15.5 Hours
Abstract
Adolescent depression is a significant public health concern that frequently co-occurs with significant non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior. The relationship between NSSI and cognitive features related to depression is a major question for contemporary psychopathology. In this context, the recent study by Zhang et al published in the World Journal of Psychiatry conducted a network analysis of rumination and NSSI in adolescents with depression, and identified core symptoms as potential intervention targets. This editorial commends their approach but argues for a cautious interpretation before translating these statistical findings into clinical practice. Specifically, this commentary highlights three critical considerations for future research: (1) The distinction between a symptom’s statistical centrality (e.g., scratching oneself) and its causal role in maintaining the network; (2) The directional ambiguity of bridge nodes (e.g., symptom-focused rumination) in a cross-sectional design, which cannot clarify whether cognition drives behavior or vice versa; and (3) The potential influence of unmeasured external variables, such as trauma or family conflict, which may act as primary drivers for the entire system of symptoms. We propose potential strategies to address these challenges and suggest a sensible framework for leveraging network approaches to enhance the clinical utility of NSSI interventions.
Core Tip: This article comments on the critical challenge of translating findings from psychological network analysis into clinical practice. These issues include: (1) The non-equivalence of network centrality and causal influence; (2) The directional ambiguity in the network's bridge connections; and (3) The stability and replicability of estimated network structures. We contend that the most judicious application of the network approach involves the integration of its statistical findings with clinical expertise, established theoretical frameworks, and the pragmatic considerations of intervention feasibility.
