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Finally, involvement of the endogenous opioid system (EOS) has repeatedly been discussed with regard to the development and maintenance of NSSI, mainly due to its role in the perception and regulation of social, emotional, and physical pain. Likewise, decreased amygdala activation through pain was observed in samples of BPD individuals with NSSI ]. Studies on (neuro-) biological underpinnings used NSSI proxies in the laboratory and found that individuals with NSSI, as compared to healthy controls (HCs), showed decreased subjective arousal and a decreased heart rate in response to painful stimulation. Empirically, studies using ambulatory assessment (AA) demonstrated a reduction in negative affect and aversive tension following NSSI. Therefore, theoretical models emphasize the role of negative reinforcement (e.g., escape from unwanted emotions) in the psychopathology of NSSI. In studies using self-report measures, those with NSSI indicated a reduction in negative feelings and aversive tension as their primary motive. The pathogenesis of NSSI was repeatedly linked to prolonged experiences of psychosocial stress, body objectification, or rejection or victimization by peers, potentially moderated by genetic predispositions.
#Beta endorphin manual
Due to its high prevalence and marked negative outcomes, including increased risk of suicide or accidental death and high associated health care costs, NSSI has been included as a new research diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is considered as a transdiagnostic symptom, but is particularly prevalent in affective disorders and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as the intentional and deliberate damage of one’s own body tissue without suicidal intent. More research is needed to replicate and extend our findings on peripheral β-endorphin in daily life.
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Furthermore, our results provide a first indication that NSSI acts could be associated with a momentary increase of β-endorphin, and this might reinforce NSSI engagement. The results of the present study indicate that it is possible to assess salivary β-endorphin in daily life in the context of NSSI. We found a positive association between severity of the self-inflicted injury and β-endorphin levels, but no significant association between β-endorphin levels and subjectively experienced pain. However, there was no difference between β-endorphin during high urge for NSSI and post NSSI measures. We found that β-endorphin levels immediately before an NSSI act were significantly lower than directly after NSSI. Furthermore, NSSI specific variables such as pain ratings, as well as method, severity, and function of NSSI were assessed. Salivary β-endorphin was assessed before and after engagement in NSSI, during high urge for NSSI, and on a non-NSSI day. Fifty-one female adults with repetitive NSSI participated over a period of 15 days in an ambulatory assessment study. This is the first study assessing salivary β-endorphin in daily life in the context of NSSI acts. To shed further light on biological processes that precede and result from NSSI acts, we built on previous cross-sectional evidence suggesting that the endogenous opioid system, and especially β-endorphin, is involved in the psychopathology of NSSI. Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent and impairing behavior, affecting individuals with and without additional psychopathology.
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