Psychopathology and patterns of sensory processing in nonsuicidal self-injured adolescents

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a multifaceted and growing phenomenon among adolescents. This study aimed at analyzing some of the psychobehavioral correlates of NSSI compare to features of long latency Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (LL-SSEP). We studied 12 adolescents (mean age 14 ys ± 1 ys), presenting NSSI referred to the Infantile Neuropsychiatry Unit of Gaslini Children’s Hospital of Genoa. We divided the sample in two groups (frequent NSSI - fNSSI and occasional NSSI - oNSSI) based on the Risk-Taking and Self-Harm Inventory for Adolescents (RITSHIA) for evaluated presence and severity of NSSI (cut off at Self-Harm subscale 16). We evaluated: the Theory of Mind subtest of NEPSY-II battery (TOM) for mentalizing ability, temporal features and topographical distribution bilaterally across the cortex of the LL-SSEP following physiological sequence N60-N70-N140. fNSSI presented lower mentalization ability in 5/6 patients compared to oNSSI (normal TOM score in 6/6 patients). Analyzing LL-SSEP we recorded not significant differences in latency of N60 and N70 and amplitude of N140, but fNSSI presented less representation and distribution with less amplitude of N60-N70 and increase latency of N140. Features of LL-SSEP correlate with the ability of mentalization and the intensity of NSSI behavior.