Large scale brain functional networks underlying non-suicidal self-injury behavior, addiction and functions in youth...

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common high-risk behavior in adolescents and it occurs in various psychiatric disorders, especially major depressive disorder (MDD). It remains largely unknown whether and which brain functional networks contribute to NSSI across youth mental disorders.

This study analyzed brain functional data acquired from 156 adolescents (MDD + NSSI group, n = 44, age = 15.32 ± 1.51; MDD-NSSI group, n = 32, age = 15.36 ± 1.96; healthy controls, n = 80, age = 15.92 ± 2.72). NSSI behavior, four NSSI functions (internal and external emotion regulation, social influence and sensation seeking), as well as the addictive feature were assessed using the Ottawa Self-injury Inventory. Using support vector machine recursive feature elimination classification and regression models, we investigated the brain functional networks that predicted NSSI. External validations were performed in an ADHD cohort (n = 40) and a transdiagnostic psychiatric cohort (n = 40).

The brain networks related to NSSI behavior were mainly composed of inter-network connections between the fronto-parietal, motor, limbic, basal ganglia networks. These networks were also associated with it four functions and the additive feature. Notably, the fronto-parietal network was involved in all NSSI components. External validations in both the ADHD and the transdiagnostic cohorts validated the associations of these functional networks with NSSI severity.

Our results demonstrate that the fronto-parietal, motor, limbic and basal ganglia networks play key roles in NSSI among youth with psychiatric disorders, offering insights into potential brain targets for prevention and intervention.