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Executive functions are impaired in adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2010

L. T. Fikke ,
A. Melinder  and
N. I. Landrø
L. T. Fikke*
Affiliation:
The Cognitive Developmental Research Unit (EKUP), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
A. Melinder
Affiliation:
The Cognitive Developmental Research Unit (EKUP), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
N. I. Landrø
Affiliation:
The Cognitive Developmental Research Unit (EKUP), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway Center for the Study of Human Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
*
*Address for correspondence: L. T. Fikke, Institute of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317 Blindern, Oslo, Norway. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate three main aspects of executive functions (EFs), i.e. shifting, updating and inhibition, in adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as compared with healthy controls.

Method

EFs were assessed using the Intra/Extradimensional Set Shift, the Spatial Working Memory (SWM) Test and the Stop Signal Test (SST) from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), in a high-severity NSSI group (n=33), a low-severity NSSI group (n=29) and a healthy control group (n=35). Diagnostic characteristics were examined using the Kiddie-Sads-Present and Lifetime Version.

Results

There were group differences on the SWM Test. A trend towards an interaction effect of sex revealed that males in the high-severity NSSI group made significantly more errors than males and females in the control group. Both males and females in the high-severity NSSI group made poor use of an efficient strategy in completing the test. The low-severity NSSI group performed poorly on the SST, making more errors than the control group and showing an impaired ability to inhibit initiated responses, as compared with the high-severity NSSI group. There were group differences in frequencies of current and previous major depressive disorder. However, no effects of these diagnoses were found on any of the EF tests.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that NSSI subgroups have distinct deficits in EFs. The high-severity NSSI group has working memory deficits, while the low-severity NSSI group has impaired inhibitory control. This supports the emotion regulation hypothesis.

Keywords

Adolescenceemotion regulationexecutive functionsnon-suicidal self-injury
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , March 2011 , pp. 601 - 610
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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