Citation

Chen Q, Liu M, Wen R, Xu C, Wei Z, Zhang W, Seger CA, Peng Z. Brain Behav. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/brb3.2607

PMID

35588292

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common problem associated with dangerous outcomes. Dysfunction of goal-directed behavioral control may contribute to NSSI. To test this, we used a novel experimental paradigm (Pavlovian-to-Instrumental Transfer, PIT) to test whether patients with NSSI utilize Pavlovian conditioned stimuli (CSs) during goal-directed control of ongoing behavior.

METHODS: Thirty-five depressed patients with NSSI (D-NSSI) and thirty-four healthy controls performed a PIT task. We measured the influence of positive and negative background CSs on instrumental responses for rewards.

RESULTS: The results showed that D-NSSI performed significantly lower PIT than controls, and PIT measures were negatively correlated with NSSI frequency. Furthermore, in a subset of patients exhibiting high levels of compulsivity, PIT positively moderated the relationship between compulsivity and NSSI frequency.

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that D-NSSI patients have difficulties in using different CSs to control ongoing behavior in a goal-directed manner, and the dysfunction of goal-directed control may contribute to NSSI.

Language: en

Keywords

goal-directed control; nonsuicidal self-injury; Pavlovian conditioned stimuli; Pavlovian-to-Instrumental Transfer