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Impulsivity in self-mutilative behavior: psychometric and biological findings
S Herpertz1, H Sass, A Favazza
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Aachen, Germany.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Impulsivity is a key factor in superficial self-harm like skin-cutting and burning. This study found impulsive personality traits are common in individuals engaging in such behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Self-mutilation is a complex behavior with varied underlying factors.
- Impulsivity is increasingly recognized as a significant element in certain self-harming actions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of impulsivity in moderate/superficial self-mutilation.
- To compare personality traits of self-mutilators with other patient groups and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Administered Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-10), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and Inventory for the Assessment of Factors of Aggressiveness to 165 subjects.
- Conducted interviews regarding impulsive and self-mutilative behaviors.
- Performed d-fenfluramine challenge test and measured prolactin levels in a subset of female participants.
Main Results:
- Results suggest impulsive personality functioning is a major factor in moderate/superficial self-mutilation.
- Trait pathology in these individuals resembles that of personality disordered patients with other impulsive behaviors.
- Specific neuroendocrine responses (d-fenfluramine, prolactin) were explored in relation to impulsivity.
Conclusions:
- Impulsive personality traits are strongly implicated in superficial self-mutilative behaviors.
- Understanding impulsivity is crucial for developing targeted interventions for self-harm.
- Further research into the neurobiological underpinnings of impulsivity in self-harm is warranted.