Background:

The CS-DS (Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale) was designed and validated in 1985 and, to date, its applications in research studies are unknown.

Objective:

To analyze the uses of the CS-DS scale through a systematic review, and to compare scores of indirect self-destructive behaviors in different population groups, in the period of 1985-2019.

Methods:

Systematic review in five multidisciplinary databases, with three search strategies following Cochrane recommendations, the phases of the PRISMA guide, and the MOOSE guide criteria. The selection of the studies and the extraction of the variableswere carried out by two researchers, guaranteeing reproducibility. The methodological quality was evaluated, and meta-analysis of indirect measures was performed by type of population, random effects meta-analysis for difference of means according to sex, and meta-regression by scale dimensions.

Results:

23 studies, with 6,382 individuals, were included. The lowest self-destructiveness was found in a healthy population and psoriasis, the highest in drug addiction, followed by suicide attempts, delinquency, anxiety or depression, and schizophrenia. In healthy population and suicide attempt, no differences were found according to sex.

Conclusion:

The CS-DS scale has been applied basically in the United States and Poland, in different populations of healthy and sick people. CS-DS demonstrates discriminating ability to profile self-destructiveness in different populations, mainly with mental disorders.