Affective instability and impulsivity predict nonsuicidal self-injury in the general population: a longitudinal analysis. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peters, Evyn; Baetz, Marilyn; Marwaha, Steven; Balbuena, Lloyd; Bowen, Rudy
• Is Part Of: Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation. Volume 3:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 7
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Borderline personality -- Nonsuicidal self-injury -- Affective instability -- Impulsivity -- Mood instability -- Emotional dysregulation; Borderline personality disorder -- Periodicals; Emotions -- Periodicals; 616.85852
• DOI: 10.1186/s40479-016-0051-3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-6673

Abstract

Abstract Background Impulsivity and affective instability are related traits known to be associated with nonsuicidal self-injury, although few longitudinal studies have examined this relationship. The purpose of this study was to determine if impulsivity and affective instability predict future nonsuicidal self-injury in the general population while accounting for the overlap between these traits. Methods Logistic regression analyses were conducted on data from 2344 participants who completed an 18-month follow-up of the 2000 British National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Affective instability and impulsivity were assessed at baseline with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders. Nonsuicidal self-injury was assessed at baseline and follow-up during semi-structured interviews. Results Affective instability and impulsivity predicted the onset of nonsuicidal self-injury during the follow-up period. Affective instability, but not impulsivity, predicted the continuation of nonsuicidal self-injury during the follow-up period. Affective instability accounted for part of the relationship between impulsivity and nonsuicidal self-injury. Conclusions Affective instability and impulsivity are important predictors of nonsuicidal self-injury in the general population. It may be more useful to target affective instability over impulsivity for the treatment of nonsuicidal self-injury.