Non-suicidal self-injury and impulsivity: Study of inibithory control in adolescent population

Introduction Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a clinical condition defined as intentional, self-inflicted act causing pain or superficial damage without suicidal intents (12-35% of the adolescent community). Several findings show a high correlation between NSSI and impairments in the impulsivity control. Objectives The goal of our study is to evaluate the role of impulsivity in NSSI adolescents, relatively to the inhibitory control, in order to investigate if it can represent a neurocognitive risk factor underlying maladaptive behaviours and which psychopathological dimensions can be associated with this neurobiological process. Methods 30 NNSI inpatients (age range: 12 to 18 years), drug-free, were compared with an age-matched control group, using two behavioural paradigms for the study of inhibitory control: the Stop Signal task and the emotive go/Nogo. Psychopathological traits were evaluated by self-report questionnaires for impulsivity dimensions, suicidality and self-injurious acts. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS program (p =0.05). Results NSSI patients did not present impairments in the global inhibitory control but they had longer movement times in both paradigms and faster reaction times in the Go/no-go behavioural paradigm. Therefore, NSSI patients tended to be impulsive at an early stage of movement (rapid TR) and have to slow down in a second phase (TM slow) in order to have time to rework the cognitive processes underlying movement. Conclusions The impulsivity dimension is a complex construct that involves multiple interconnected factors. The study of neuro-cognitive and psychopathological aspects and how they are interconnected is necessary to draw new perspectives on the etiopathogenesis of NNSI.