Home1
Psychological tests2
Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS)3

Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) Test

With 39 questions and an estimated completion time of 8 minutes, the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) Test explores possible reasons behind these behaviors. Your profile can clarify emotional, interpersonal, and personal functions, supporting thoughtful self-reflection about patterns and needs.

Questions: 398 minutes

Inventory of Statements About: situation and reply bubbles

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025Material has been updatedOctober 2, 2025Material has been published

24,744 views

2,805 completions

2,288 likes

Daniel Hall Psychologist · Test reviewer

2,288 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

Affect RegulationAR

Measures the extent to which self-injury is used to reduce or manage intense negative emotions.

example score3/6

3/6Moderateexample score

0 – 2Low

3 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting self-injury is sometimes used as a way to cope with emotional distress.

Interpersonal BoundariesIB

This scale measures the extent to which self-injury is used to create or maintain distance from others and reinforce a sense of separateness.

example score3/6

3/6Moderateexample score

0 – 2Low

3 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 3 suggests a moderate tendency to use self-injury as a way to set interpersonal distance or emphasize individuality.

Self-PunishmentSP

This scale measures the extent to which self-injury is used to punish oneself or express self-directed dissatisfaction after perceived mistakes or failures.

example score4/6

4/6Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 4 indicates a moderate tendency to use self-injury as a form of self-punishment or self-criticism in response to perceived shortcomings.

Self-CareSC

Measures the extent to which post-injury wound care is experienced as a self-nurturing act that provides temporary relief or satisfaction.

example score2/6

2/6Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 2 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting wound care sometimes serves a self-nurturing function and may provide some temporary relief or satisfaction.

Anti-DissociationAD

This scale measures the extent to which physical pain is used to counter emotional numbness and restore a sense of reality.

example score2/6

2/6Lowexample score

0 – 2Low

3 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 2 suggests a low tendency to use pain specifically to feel real or break through emotional numbness.

Suicide PreventionSP

This scale measures the extent to which self-injury is used to cope with suicidal thoughts as an alternative to a suicide attempt.

example score3/6

3/6Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting self-injury is sometimes used as a coping strategy to manage suicidal thoughts rather than acting on them.

Sensation SeekingSS

This scale measures the extent to which self-injurious behavior is used to seek intense, novel, or unusual sensations.

example score1/6

1/6Lowexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 1 suggests that seeking new or intense experiences is a minimal motive for self-injurious behavior relative to other possible functions.

Peer BondingPB

This scale measures the extent to which self-injury is used to fit in with peers, strengthen group bonds, or meet social expectations.

example score4/6

4/6Moderateexample score

0 – 2Low

3 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 4 suggests a moderate tendency to use self-injury in connection with peer belonging or social expectations.

Interpersonal InfluenceII

Interpersonal Influence measures the extent to which self-injury is used to communicate distress or elicit care and support from others.

example score3/6

3/6Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting self-injury may sometimes function as a way to signal emotional pain or prompt support from others.

SignificanceS

This scale measures the extent to which self-injury is used to demonstrate toughness, endurance of pain, or strength to oneself or others.

example score3/6

3/6Moderateexample score

0 – 2Low

3 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 3 suggests a moderate tendency to use self-injury as a way to feel or show personal strength or the ability to tolerate pain.

Signaling DistressSD

Measures the extent to which self-harm is used to express and validate experienced emotional distress.

example score2/6

2/6Lowexample score

0 – 2Low

3 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 2 falls in the Low range, suggesting self-harm is less often used to express or validate emotional tension compared with higher scores.

RevengeR

Measures the extent to which self-harm is used to indirectly express anger or punish someone else.

example score3/6

3/6Moderateexample score

0 – 1Low

2 – 4Moderate

5 – 6High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting revenge-related motives are present at a noticeable but not dominant level among possible reasons for self-harm.

AutonomyA

Autonomy measures the extent to which self-injury is used to assert independence and signal reduced need for support from others.

example score3/6

3/6Moderate autonomy functionexample score

0 – 1Low autonomy function

2 – 4Moderate autonomy function

5 – 6High autonomy function

A score of 3 indicates a moderate tendency to use self-injury as a way to emphasize self-reliance or distance from others' help.

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People in active therapy

41%OF USERS

People who already self-injure and want to clarify the motives and triggers to guide ongoing treatment and coping plans.

Mental health clinicians

35%OF USERS

Therapists and clinicians use it to quickly structure a client’s reasons for self-injury and plan targeted support.

Researchers and trainees

24%OF USERS

Students and researchers in psychology or psychiatry use it to assess functions of self-injury for studies and clinical training.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Shaded area — where most people score

Dot — the average

You — your score lands on each curve after the test— your score, after the test

Affective RegulationAR

You?

Average1.9

Typical rangeTypical0.9 – 3

Possible0 – 6

Interpersonal BoundariesIB

You?

Average2.8

Typical rangeTypical2.1 – 3.6

Possible0 – 6

Self-punishmentS

You?

Average4.1

Typical rangeTypical3.3 – 4.8

Possible0 – 6

Self-CareS

You?

Average3.4

Typical rangeTypical2.6 – 4.2

Possible0 – 6

Anti-dissociationA

You?

Average3

Typical rangeTypical2.2 – 3.9

Possible0 – 6

Suicide PreventionSP

You?

Average3.6

Typical rangeTypical2.6 – 4.7

Possible0 – 6

Seeking New ExperiencesSNE

You?

Average2.4

Typical rangeTypical1.3 – 3.4

Possible0 – 6

Bonding with PeersBwP

You?

Average2.5

Typical rangeTypical1.6 – 3.3

Possible0 – 6

Interpersonal InfluenceII

You?

Average1.6

Typical rangeTypical0.8 – 2.3

Possible0 – 6

SignificanceS

You?

Average4

Typical rangeTypical2.9 – 5.1

Possible0 – 6

Distress DefinitionDD

You?

Average2.2

Typical rangeTypical1.2 – 3.3

Possible0 – 6

RevengeR

You?

Average4.4

Typical rangeTypical3.3 – 5.5

Possible0 – 6

AutonomyA

You?

Average2.2

Typical rangeTypical1.2 – 3.2

Possible0 – 6

Featured On

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

- Not relevant
- Somewhat relevant
- Very relevant
- Not relevant
- Somewhat relevant
- Very relevant
- Not relevant
- Somewhat relevant
- Very relevant

These are 3 of the 39 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) Test - Description and methodology of the test

psychopathology

self-harm

People who want to understand why self-injury may occur can use the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) Test to examine several possible reasons without reducing them to one explanation. This self-injury assessment is intended for people reflecting on emotional distress or relationship experiences. Its profile highlights patterns involving regulation, punishment, boundaries, support, belonging, and independence.

What This Assessment Explores

Across emotional, interpersonal, and personal motives, this assessment examines the functions that self-injury may serve in different contexts. It does not assume one episode has one purpose; several functions of self-injury can appear together, so the profile is read as a pattern of possible motives.

The displayed dimensions are:

Self-Punishment, Self-Care, Suicide Prevention, Sensation Seeking, Interpersonal Influence, and Revenge each score 0-6 with Low 0-1, Moderate 2-4, and High 5-6; they cover self-disapproval, wound care, suicide-related coping, intense experiences, support-seeking, and retaliation.
Affect Regulation, Interpersonal Boundaries, Anti-Dissociation, Peer Bonding, Significance, and Signaling Distress each score 0-6 with Low 0-2, Moderate 3-4, and High 5-6; they cover emotional relief, separateness, restoring reality, belonging, pain endurance, and distress expression.
Autonomy scores 0-6 with Low autonomy function 0-1, Moderate autonomy function 2-4, and High autonomy function 5-6; it reflects affirming independence and limiting reliance on others.

Methodology and Scientific Basis

Each statement asks how relevant a possible function is. The response options move from Not relevant or Not at all relevant through Somewhat relevant to Very relevant. Responses contribute to separate function scores rather than one overall total, so the pattern across dimensions matters more than a single number.

Conceptually, the online ISAS questionnaire is consistent with the published ISAS, the source instrument, but it should not be treated as identical to every research administration. Its digital presentation uses a broad functional approach, and the displayed scoring should be read as specific to this questionnaire.

Evidence from the published ISAS includes one-year test-retest reliability reported by Glenn and Klonsky. A separate psychometric study by Kortge, Meade, and Tennant examined the published instrument's interpersonal and intrapersonal structure. That evidence concerns the published ISAS, while this questionnaire's displayed bands are descriptive catalogue ranges rather than established population norms or diagnostic cutoffs.

Self-report scores can shift with current mood, memory, self-awareness, and willingness to disclose. The profile can guide reflection on context and needs, but it cannot establish a diagnosis or replace broader clinical assessment.

Author: C. R. Glenn, E. D. Klonsky

Literature:

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(3), 215-219. 10.1007/s10862-008-9107-z
Glenn, C. R., & Klonsky, E. D. (2011). One-Year Test-Retest Reliability of the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS). Assessment, 18(3), 375-378. 10.1177/1073191111411669
Kortge, R., Meade, T., & Tennant, A. (2013). Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Functions of Deliberate Self-Harm (DSH): A Psychometric Examination of the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) Scale. Behaviour Change, 30(1), 24-35. 10.1017/bec.2013.3

Updated: 2025-10-02