What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury

Peter Mertin

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11

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What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury

Peter Mertin

Published in International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences (Volume 7, Issue 2)

Received: 4 May 2022 Accepted: 24 May 2022 Published: 31 May 2022

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Abstract

Generally regarded as being deliberate damage to the body in the absence of intent to die, and for purposes that are not socially sanctioned, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been a subject of increasing concern in the area of public health over the past 20 years. Clinical and research evidence indicates that onset typically begins in early adolescence, although the data is less clear on the incidence of self-harm in the adolescent population in general. There is a general understanding, however, that one major function of NSSI is the regulation of emotions and managing distress, while self-punishment has also been reported as a further significant motive to self-harm. Whereas social and psychological factors contributing to risk for developing NSSI are now relatively well understood, neurological mechanisms involved in self-harming behaviours are less so. It is considered that an understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms involved in NSSI may provide a better explanation for the urges to self-harm, the role these mechanisms play in regulating emotions, and reasons why stopping the behaviour can be so difficult. This paper provides a brief summary of the current risk factors associated with NSSI, then reviews aspects of neurological correlates of self-harming behaviours with an emphasis on autonomic nervous system functioning.

Published in	International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11
Page(s)	7-14
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Nonsuicidal Self-injury, Autonomic Nervous System, Endogenous Opioids, Dissociation, Emotional Regulation

References

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APA Style

Peter Mertin. (2022). What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury. International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 7(2), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11

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ACS Style

Peter Mertin. What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury. Int. J. Psychol. Brain Sci. 2022, 7(2), 7-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11

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AMA Style

Peter Mertin. What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury. Int J Psychol Brain Sci. 2022;7(2):7-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11,
  author = {Peter Mertin},
  title = {What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury},
  journal = {International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences},
  volume = {7},
  number = {2},
  pages = {7-14},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijpbs.20220702.11},
  abstract = {Generally regarded as being deliberate damage to the body in the absence of intent to die, and for purposes that are not socially sanctioned, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been a subject of increasing concern in the area of public health over the past 20 years. Clinical and research evidence indicates that onset typically begins in early adolescence, although the data is less clear on the incidence of self-harm in the adolescent population in general. There is a general understanding, however, that one major function of NSSI is the regulation of emotions and managing distress, while self-punishment has also been reported as a further significant motive to self-harm. Whereas social and psychological factors contributing to risk for developing NSSI are now relatively well understood, neurological mechanisms involved in self-harming behaviours are less so. It is considered that an understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms involved in NSSI may provide a better explanation for the urges to self-harm, the role these mechanisms play in regulating emotions, and reasons why stopping the behaviour can be so difficult. This paper provides a brief summary of the current risk factors associated with NSSI, then reviews aspects of neurological correlates of self-harming behaviours with an emphasis on autonomic nervous system functioning.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury
AU  - Peter Mertin
Y1  - 2022/05/31
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11
T2  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JF  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JO  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
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EP  - 14
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1573
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11
AB  - Generally regarded as being deliberate damage to the body in the absence of intent to die, and for purposes that are not socially sanctioned, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been a subject of increasing concern in the area of public health over the past 20 years. Clinical and research evidence indicates that onset typically begins in early adolescence, although the data is less clear on the incidence of self-harm in the adolescent population in general. There is a general understanding, however, that one major function of NSSI is the regulation of emotions and managing distress, while self-punishment has also been reported as a further significant motive to self-harm. Whereas social and psychological factors contributing to risk for developing NSSI are now relatively well understood, neurological mechanisms involved in self-harming behaviours are less so. It is considered that an understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms involved in NSSI may provide a better explanation for the urges to self-harm, the role these mechanisms play in regulating emotions, and reasons why stopping the behaviour can be so difficult. This paper provides a brief summary of the current risk factors associated with NSSI, then reviews aspects of neurological correlates of self-harming behaviours with an emphasis on autonomic nervous system functioning.
VL  - 7
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Peter Mertin

Harbourside Psychology, Adelaide, South Australia

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APA Style

Peter Mertin. (2022). What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury. International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 7(2), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11

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ACS Style

Peter Mertin. What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury. Int. J. Psychol. Brain Sci. 2022, 7(2), 7-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Peter Mertin. What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury. Int J Psychol Brain Sci. 2022;7(2):7-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11,
  author = {Peter Mertin},
  title = {What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury},
  journal = {International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences},
  volume = {7},
  number = {2},
  pages = {7-14},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijpbs.20220702.11},
  abstract = {Generally regarded as being deliberate damage to the body in the absence of intent to die, and for purposes that are not socially sanctioned, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been a subject of increasing concern in the area of public health over the past 20 years. Clinical and research evidence indicates that onset typically begins in early adolescence, although the data is less clear on the incidence of self-harm in the adolescent population in general. There is a general understanding, however, that one major function of NSSI is the regulation of emotions and managing distress, while self-punishment has also been reported as a further significant motive to self-harm. Whereas social and psychological factors contributing to risk for developing NSSI are now relatively well understood, neurological mechanisms involved in self-harming behaviours are less so. It is considered that an understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms involved in NSSI may provide a better explanation for the urges to self-harm, the role these mechanisms play in regulating emotions, and reasons why stopping the behaviour can be so difficult. This paper provides a brief summary of the current risk factors associated with NSSI, then reviews aspects of neurological correlates of self-harming behaviours with an emphasis on autonomic nervous system functioning.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - What Lies Beneath: Some Neurological Correlates of Nonsuicidal Self-injury
AU  - Peter Mertin
Y1  - 2022/05/31
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11
T2  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JF  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
JO  - International Journal of Psychological and Brain Sciences
SP  - 7
EP  - 14
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1573
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijpbs.20220702.11
AB  - Generally regarded as being deliberate damage to the body in the absence of intent to die, and for purposes that are not socially sanctioned, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been a subject of increasing concern in the area of public health over the past 20 years. Clinical and research evidence indicates that onset typically begins in early adolescence, although the data is less clear on the incidence of self-harm in the adolescent population in general. There is a general understanding, however, that one major function of NSSI is the regulation of emotions and managing distress, while self-punishment has also been reported as a further significant motive to self-harm. Whereas social and psychological factors contributing to risk for developing NSSI are now relatively well understood, neurological mechanisms involved in self-harming behaviours are less so. It is considered that an understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms involved in NSSI may provide a better explanation for the urges to self-harm, the role these mechanisms play in regulating emotions, and reasons why stopping the behaviour can be so difficult. This paper provides a brief summary of the current risk factors associated with NSSI, then reviews aspects of neurological correlates of self-harming behaviours with an emphasis on autonomic nervous system functioning.
VL  - 7
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download