Functional Connectivity Differences in Nonsuicidal Self-injury with and without Depression

Poster No:

642 

Submission Type:

Abstract Submission 

Authors:

Hyeri Moon1, Jinhee Kim1, Ji-Won Hur1

Institutions:

1Korea University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of

First Author:

Hyeri Moon  
Korea University
Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Co-Author(s):

Jinhee Kim  
Korea University
Seoul, Korea, Republic of
Ji-Won Hur  
Korea University
Seoul, Korea, Republic of

Introduction:

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), which refers to intentional and direct physical self-harm without any suicidal intent, is highly comorbid with affective disorders, most notably major depressive disorder (MDD) (Kiekens et al., 2018a; 2018b). Due to the complex intertwining of these two clinical conditions, there has been an ongoing effort to identify neurobiological features of NSSI that may distinguish it from MDD. However, to date, only a limited number of neuroimaging studies have examined MDD and NSSI together (Huang et al.,, 2021; Kang et al., 2022), and furthermore, only studies have focused on NSSI behaviors in individuals with MDD. More research is needed on the neurological characteristics of individuals engaging in NSSI with and without MDD. Here, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine intrinsic neuronal differences between NSSI with and without MDD and how they contribute to the clinical characteristics of these two populations.

Methods:

A total of 91 individuals with NSSI (36 with MDD, 55 without MDD) and 84 controls underwent a 6-min resting-state fMRI scanning (Siemens 3T Trio Scanner from two sites) and completed the 36-item Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) to assess emotion dysregulation. Image preprocessing was performed using the CONN's default pipeline, which includes motion correction, slice timing correction, EPI normalization to EPI template, and spatial smoothing with a 6mm³ Gaussian kernel. With the preprocessed rs-fMRI data, 27 resting-state independent components were obtained using group spatial independent component analysis (Allen et al., 2011), as implemented in the GIFT toolbox (Calhoun, 2004). The identified independent components were categorized into sub-cortical network, visual network (VN), auditory network, somatosensory network (SMN), default mode network (DMN), cognitive-executive networks (CN). The functional connectivity (FC) matrices were calculated as the Fisher z-transformed temporal correlations between independent components and were then entered into an ANCOVA, accounting for group factor and DERS scores as covariates, with gender, age, and handedness included as nuisance covariates.

Results:

The NSSI with MDD group, compared to the NSSI without MDD group, showed decreased CN functional connectivity between the frontal pole and supplementary motor cortex. Importantly, significant interactions between the NSSI group and DERS interactions were observed. The NSSI with MDD group had higher FC between the bilateral precentral gyrus (SMN) - ventromedial prefrontal cortex (DMN) and the medial temporal lobe (VN) - ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (CN) was positively correlated with emotion dysregulation. In contrast, the NSSI without MDD group showed a negative correlation between the FCs between these regions and emotion dysregulation. In addition, within the NSSI with MDD group, the decreased FC between the precentral gyrus (SMN) - bilateral fusiform gyrus (VN), the bilateral intracalcarine cortex (VN) - bilateral fusiform gyrus (VN), and the medial temporal lobe (VN) - precuneus (DMN), and the increased FC between these regions within the NSSI with MDD group were each related with emotional dysregulation,
Supporting Image: UNI_DERSxmdd-womdd_up001.png
   ·Interaction effect in DERS, Group differences between NSSI with and without MDD
Supporting Image: UNI_GroupEffect-mdd-womdd_up001.png
   ·Group differences between NSSI with and without MDD
 

Conclusions:

We found that the NSSI with MDD group showed differential resting-state functional connectivity compared to the NSSI without MDD group. These neurobiological distinctions differentiate NSSI subgroups, highlighting the need for targeted clinical interventions and personalized treatment.

Disorders of the Nervous System:

Psychiatric (eg. Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia) 1

Emotion, Motivation and Social Neuroscience:

Social Neuroscience Other 2

Keywords:

Affective Disorders
FUNCTIONAL MRI
Other - Nonsuicidal Self-injury; Major Depressive Disorder; Emotion dysregulation; Group ICA; Resting-state functional connectivity

1|2Indicates the priority used for review

Provide references using author date format

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