Suicide and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

Abstract

This chapter reviews current data on the prevalence of suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in patients with PDs; the characteristics of attempters versus completers; and the epidemiology of NSSI in borderline personality disorder (BPD). In addition, it presents explanatory models for suicide and NSSI. Also, there are comprehensive discussions of the neurobiological mechanisms involved in both suicidality and NSSI focusing on the structural and functional neuroimaging of emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, executive cognitive deficits, affective interference and cognitive function, and the Endogenous Opioid System. The chapter concludes with a detailed description of pain processing as it interacts with NSSI.