Poster 36

[P-36-01] Electrophysiological changes in depressive patients with non-suicidal self-injury: An event-related potential study and source analysis

*Sehoon Shim¹, Sangwoo Hahn² (1.SOONCHUNHYANG UNIV. CHEONAN HOSPITAL(Korea), 2.SOONCHUNHYANG UNIV. HOSPITAL(Korea))

Keywords:

Interpersonal Relations,NSSI,ERP,EEG,Depression

Introduction: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is increasingly being observed among adolescents as a maladaptive coping mechanism for alleviating emotional distress. Despite its high prevalence, the neurobiological underpinnings that link interpersonal distress to cognitive control deficits remain underexplored. Electroencephalography (EEG) studies suggest that the no-go P3 component may serve as a biomarker for impulsivity and response inhibition, offering insights into the mechanisms underlying NSSI behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychological characteristics, neural activity, and cognitive control in adolescents with NSSI and healthy controls (HC).Methods: A total of 51 adolescents with NSSI and 50 HC were recruited. Psychological characteristics were assessed using standardized scales including the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) and Short UPPS-P Impulsivity Scale (SUPPS-P). EEG were recorded during a go/no-go task to measure P3 amplitudes. Source analysis was performed to localize the neural activity. Group differences were analyzed using ANCOVA to control for depression and anxiety, followed by partial correlation and mediation analyses to evaluate the relationships among the variables.Results: The NSSI group exhibited significantly lower no-go P3 amplitudes at all electrodes than the HC group (p < 0.001), even after controlling for depression and anxiety. No-go P3 amplitudes negatively correlated with INQ scores, suggesting that interpersonal distress affected response inhibition. Source analysis revealed reduced neural activity in the right superior frontal gyrus, the inferior parietal gyrus, and other regions associated with cognitive control and emotional regulation in the NSSI group. However, these differences disappeared after adjusting for depression and anxiety, indicating their potential mediating roles.Conclusions: These findings highlight the interplay between interpersonal distress, depression, anxiety, and cognitive control deficits among adolescents with NSSI. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these pathways and explore therapeutic interventions targeting interpersonal distress and emotional regulation to mitigate NSSI.