Predicting Self-Injury in BPD: An Investigation of the Experiential Avoidance Model

This study investigated the contribution of indices of experiential avoidance to prediction of frequency and lethality of self-injurious behaviour (SIB) in a female BPD sample (N = 71) with high levels of SIB and histories of poor treatment outcomes. The experiential avoidance model (EAM) tested included motivations for SIB, coping style and DSM-IV Avoidant PD criteria. Distinct findings for suicidal and non-suicidal SIB were noted. In partial support of the model, motivations related to relief from negative emotions positively predicted frequency of non-suicidal, but not suicidal, SIB. Avoidant PD traits predicted a pattern of more frequent, less risky non-suicidal SIB. However, reliance on avoidant coping strategies predicted lethality but not frequency of SIB, while selfblaming coping and SIB motivations related to a desire to influence others predicted frequency of non-suicidal SIB. Results suggest the need for investigation of a more complex model of the antecedents and functions of SIB that includes the contribution of Avoidant PD traits.