Citation

Plener PL, Zohsel K, Hohm E, Buchmann AF, Banaschewski T, Zimmermann US, Laucht M. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 76: 84-87.

Affiliation

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Potsdam, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.11.009

PMID

27889466

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Self-harm is highly prevalent in adolescence, often serving an emotion regulation function. Social stressors such as bullying are associated with self-harm. The neurobiological background of the relationship between social stressors and self-harm needs to be further understood to inform prevention and therapy.

METHODS: Participants were members of an epidemiological cohort study. 130 female participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) at age 19. Of them, 21 reported a history of self-harm as assessed by the Youth Self Report. Psychiatric diagnoses were recorded.

RESULTS: Participants with a history of self-harm showed significantly lower blood cortisol levels throughout the TSST. Early psychosocial adversity did not significantly differ between groups with and without self-harm, with self-harming participants reporting more childhood adversities.

CONCLUSION: These results add to the limited field of studies showing an altered HPA axis activity in females with self-harm. Future studies need to address the causal mechanisms behind this association.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en