Impaired behavioral inhibitory control of self-injury cues between adolescents with depression with self-injury behavior and those without during a two-choice oddball task: an event-related potential study

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aimed to objectively evaluate the severity of impulsivity [behavior inhibitory control (BIC) impairment] among adolescents with depression. In particular, those involved in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors, compared with those engaged in suicidal behaviors and adolescents without any self-injury behavior, using event-related potentials (ERPs) and event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) within the two-choice oddball paradigm.MethodsParticipants with a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) engaged in repetitive NSSI for five or more days in the past year (n = 53) or having a history of at least one prior complete suicidal behavior (n = 31) were recruited in the self-injury group. Those without self-injury behavior were recruited in the MDD group (n = 40). They completed self-report scales and a computer-based two-choice oddball paradigm during which a continuous electroencephalogram was recorded. The difference waves in P3d were derived from the deviant minus standard wave, and the target index was the difference between the two conditions. We focused on latency and amplitude, and time-frequency analyses were conducted in addition to the conventional index.ResultsParticipants with self-injury, compared to those with depression but without self-injury, exhibited specific deficits in BIC impairment, showing a significantly larger amplitude. Specifically, the NSSI group showed the highest value in amplitude and theta power, and suicidal behavior showed a high value in amplitude but the lowest value in theta power. These results may potentially predict the onset of suicide following repetitive NSSI.ConclusionThese findings contribute to substantial progress in exploring neuro-electrophysiological evidence of self-injury behaviors. Furthermore, the difference between the NSSI and suicide groups might be the direction of prediction of suicidality.

Reduced inhibition control ability in children with ADHD due to coexisting learning disorders: an fNIRS study

“…The pressing frequency of standard stimuli (baseline trails) is much higher than that of deviant stimuli (Oddball trails). Therefore, when low-frequency deviant stimuli (Oddball trails) appear, participants need to suppress the established dominant pressing tendency toward standard stimuli (baseline trails) to ensure correct responses to deviant stimuli ( 21 , 23 – 25 ). Due to this inhibition mechanism, the TCO paradigm is thought to have much higher ecological validity for the evaluation of inhibitory control than others (such as standard GNG and SS tasks).…”

“…Additionally, inhibition control is the core component of EF, and may play a crucial role in academic performances and achievements ( 17 – 25 ), which are significantly related with SLD. On the other hand, impulsivity, which involves the process of inhibition control, is assumed to be a major characteristic of ADHD ( 17 ).…”

“…To cope with flaws in GNG and SS tasks, this study attempts to apply a two-choice Oddball (TCO) paradigm in the understanding of inhibitory control ( 20 , 21 , 23 – 25 ). In a TCO task, participants are required to response to both standard and deviant stimuli, so that the results are not contaminated by motor-response-related processes.…”

“…In a TCO task, participants are required to response to both standard and deviant stimuli, so that the results are not contaminated by motor-response-related processes. Consequently, the TCO paradigm is thought to have a higher ecological validity in the evaluation of inhibitory control than others (e.g., standard GNG and SS tasks) ( 21 , 23 – 25 ). TCO paradigms have been widely used in various applications, such as addiction ( 24 ), depression ( 25 ), restrained eaters ( 26 ), acute stress ( 27 ), visually induced motion sickness ( 28 ), avoidant attachment-style individuals ( 29 ), nonsuicidal self-injury ( 30 ), and male smokers ( 20 ).…”

“…Consequently, the TCO paradigm is thought to have a higher ecological validity in the evaluation of inhibitory control than others (e.g., standard GNG and SS tasks) ( 21 , 23 – 25 ). TCO paradigms have been widely used in various applications, such as addiction ( 24 ), depression ( 25 ), restrained eaters ( 26 ), acute stress ( 27 ), visually induced motion sickness ( 28 ), avoidant attachment-style individuals ( 29 ), nonsuicidal self-injury ( 30 ), and male smokers ( 20 ). However, it has not fully investigated the issue of how to apply TCO paradigms to understand inhibitory control deficits in the comorbidity of ADHD and SLD.…”