Examining pain empathy in adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury
Abnormal Neural Pain Empathic Processing in Adolescents With Non-suicidal Self-Injury
This study is trying to see how the brains of teens who hurt themselves on purpose respond to feelings of pain in others compared to teens who don’t, to better understand their emotional challenges.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 15 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chengdu, Sichuan) |
| Trial ID | NCT05968313 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study aims to investigate the neural processing of pain empathy in adolescents who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) compared to healthy controls. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the study will recruit 40 adolescents with NSSI behaviors and 40 healthy adolescents to assess their brain activity in response to pain empathy stimuli. The focus is on understanding how altered empathic processing may relate to the emotional and interpersonal challenges faced by these adolescents. By comparing the neural responses of both groups, the study seeks to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of pain empathy in NSSI.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adolescents aged 15-18 who are right-handed and have engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury behaviors.
Not a fit: Patients with high suicidal risk, significant psychiatric disorders, or those currently undergoing specific therapies may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance understanding of the emotional processing in adolescents with NSSI, potentially leading to improved therapeutic approaches.
How similar studies have performed: While studies on pain empathy exist, this specific examination of NSSI adolescents using fMRI is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 15-18 years * right-handed * normal or corrected normal visual acuity * meet the proposed DSM-5 frequency criteria (e.g., ≥5 days of NSSI behaviors in the past year) Exclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder, other * psychiatric disorders, etc. * high suicidal risk * recent use of medications that can affect neural activity * have received or are receiving Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) other treatment for emotional problems within the past 6 months * have a contraindication to MRI scanning (e.g., metal implants, claustrophobia or other conditions that make them inappropriate for MRI scanning)
Where this trial is running
Chengdu, Sichuan
- Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China — Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Benjamin Becker
- Email: ben_becker@gmx.de
- Phone: +86.028-61830867
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.