150. Ecological Momentary Assessment of Psychological and Biological Antecedents and Consequences of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Abstract

Individuals practicing NSSI often describe a reduction of negative feelings and aversive tension through tissue damage, indicating an important role of the combination of operant learning and reinforcing neuronal mechanisms in the psychopathology of NSSI. Importantly, affected individuals are not able to reduce the self-harming behavior – even though they suffer from the consequences. Finally, it was supposed that NSSI has an effect on the endogenous opioid system, especially on ß-endorphin. The current study investigates possible psychological and biological antecedents and consequences of NSSI in daily life. We hypothesized that ß-endorphin levels are higher after NSSI compared to a control condition (high urge for NSSI). Additionally, negative affect as well as painfulness of NSSI should be related to β-endorphin level at the same time.