Pain sensitivity as a state marker and predictor for adolescent non-suicidal self-injury

BackgroundThe pain analgesia hypothesis suggests that reduced pain sensitivity (PS) is a specific risk factor for the engagement in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Consistent with this, several studies found reduced PS in adults as well as adolescents with NSSI. Cross-sectional studies in adults wi...

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Main Authors: Kao, Han-Tin (Author) , Mürner-Lavanchy, Ines M. (Author) , Stosch, Elisabeth von (Author) , Josi, Johannes (Author) , Berger, Thomas (Author) , Koenig, Julian (Author) , Kaess, Michael (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 11 March 2024
In: Psychological medicine
Year: 2024, Volume: 54, Issue: 9, Pages: 2291-2298
ISSN:1469-8978
DOI:10.1017/S0033291724000461
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291724000461
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/pain-sensitivity-as-a-state-marker-and-predictor-for-adolescent-nonsuicidal-selfinjury/7D345FF0D7B86D8337CCC3E1E437A343
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Author Notes:Han-Tin Kao, Ines Mürner-Lavanchy, Elisabeth von Stosch, Johannes Josi, Thomas Berger, Julian Koenig and Michael Kaess
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Summary:BackgroundThe pain analgesia hypothesis suggests that reduced pain sensitivity (PS) is a specific risk factor for the engagement in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Consistent with this, several studies found reduced PS in adults as well as adolescents with NSSI. Cross-sectional studies in adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD) suggest that PS may (partially) normalize after remission or reduction of BPD symptoms. The objective of the present study was to investigate the development of PS over 1 year in a sample of adolescents with NSSI and to investigate whether PS at baseline predicts longitudinal change in NSSI.MethodsN = 66 adolescents who underwent specialized treatment for NSSI disorder participated in baseline and 1-year follow-up assessments, including heat pain stimulation for the measurement of pain threshold and tolerance. Associations between PS and NSSI as well as BPD and depressive symptoms were examined using negative binomial, logistic, and linear regression analyses.ResultsWe found that a decrease in pain threshold over time was associated with reduced NSSI (incident rate ratio = 2.04, p = 0.047) and that higher pain tolerance at baseline predicted lower probability for NSSI (odds ratio = 0.42, p = 0.016) 1 year later. However, the latter effect did not survive Holm correction (p = 0.059). No associations between PS and BPD or depressive symptoms were observed.ConclusionOur findings suggest that pain threshold might normalize with a decrease in NSSI frequency and could thus serve as a state marker for NSSI.
Item Description:Gesehen am 12.07.2024
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1469-8978
DOI:10.1017/S0033291724000461