The Addictive Model of Self-Harming (Non-suicidal and Suicidal) Behavior

Abstract

IntroductionBehavioral addictions such as gambling, sun-tanning, shopping, Internet use, work, exercise, or even love and sex are frequent, and share many characteristics and common neurobiological and genetic underpinnings with substance addictions (i.e., tolerance, withdrawal, and relapse). Recent literature suggests that both non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behavior (SB) can also be conceptualized as addictions. The major aim of this mini review is to review the literature and explore the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms underlying the addiction to self-harming behaviors.MethodThis is a narrative review. The authors performed literature searches in PubMed and Google for suicidal behavior, self-harming, addiction, and “major repeaters.” Given the scarce literature on the topic, a subset of the most closely related studies was selected. The authors also focused on three empirical studies testing the hypothesis that major repeaters (individuals with ≥5 lifetime suicide attempts) represent a distinctive suicidal phenotype and are the individuals at risk of developing an addiction to SB.ResultsThe authors reviewed the concept of behavioral addictions and major repeaters, current empirical evidence testing concerning whether or not NSSI and SB can be understood as “addictions,” and the putative mechanisms underlying them.ConclusionOur review suggests that both NSSI and SB can be conceptualized as addictions. This is relevant because if some individual’s self-harming behaviors are better conceptualized as an addiction, treatment approaches could be tailored to this addiction.

An Exploration of Differences Between Deliberate Self-Harm with and without Suicidal Intent Amongst a Clinical Sample of Young People in Singapore: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Affect lability predicts occurrence of suicidal ideation in bipolar patients: a two‐year prospective study

“…The addiction to self‐harming behaviours can be explained either by neurobiological or by psychological mechanisms. Concerning neurobiological mechanisms, opioid and dopaminergic systems, and hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which interact in the forebrain can be activated either by psychoactive drugs or by behaviours, are probably involved in the development of an addiction to suicidal behaviours . For psychological mechanisms, previous suicidal behaviour sensitizes suicidal thoughts and behaviours, such that they become more autonomous and easily precipitated .…”

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Neurophysiological mechanisms of formation of non-chemical dependence through self-stimulation of positive emotiogenic areas of rats’ brains

“…Динаміка ЧРСС заднього вентролатерального гіпоталамуса у щурів із високим рівнем потреби в позитивному емоційному підкріпленні: а -ЧРСС вентролатерального гіпоталамуса щурів з її вірогідним підвищенням; б -ЧРСС вентролатерального гіпоталамуса (загальна група); в -ЧРСС вентролатерального гіпоталамуса щурів без її вірогідного підвищення У стані відміни самостимуляції вентролатерального гіпоталамуса емоційна поведінка щурів була різноманітною. В одних тварин формувалися реакції агресивної спрямованості: підвищена рухова активність із судомними обтрушуваннями, скрегіт зубів, негативний грумінг, що підтверджується літературними даними (Ferguson, 2015;Zinkiewicz, 2015;Blasco-Fontecilla, 2016). В інших формувалися реакції тривожно-фобічної спрямованості: реакції страху, тварини забивалися в куток клітки, що супроводжувалося сильним вегетативним забезпеченням, численними актами дефекації та сечовипускання; відзначалося зниження рухової активності, зростання внутрішньої напруги.…”