Objective To investigate the effect of childhood trauma on non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI)behavior in patients with depression.Method Embase,PubMed,Cochrane Library,PsycINFO,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data and China Biology Medicine dis were searched from inception to March 2024 for cross-sectional,case-control and cohort studies on childhood trauma and NSSI in patients with depression.Two researchers independently screened studies,extracted data,and assessed quality.The effect indicators were the odds ratio(OR)of childhood trauma and school bullying to NSSI in the depressed population and the mean difference(MD)of the childhood trauma subscale scores between the depressed population with and without NSSI.Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata17 software.Results A total of 29 articles with 5 095 depressed patients were included.Childhood trauma was significantly associated with NSSI in patients with depression(OR=2.91,95%CI=2.01-4.21).Various forms of childhood trauma were related to NSSI behaviors in depressive patients:physical abuse(MD=0.77,95%CI=0.47-1.06),emotional abuse(MD=2.99,95%CI=2.10-3.88),physical neglect(MD=1.17,95%CI=0.47-1.87),emotional neglect(MD=2.59,95%CI=1.82-3.36),and sexual abuse(MD=0.35,95%CI=0.19-0.51).Additionally,school bullying among extra-family factors was identified as a risk factor for NSSI(OR=2.16,95%CI=1.46-3.18).Conclusion Childhood trauma is a risk factor for NSSI behaviors in patients with depression.Different types of childhood trauma within the family,including various forms of abuse and neglect,and school bullying outside the family are related to NSSI behaviors in this population.