Validation of a Laboratory Measure of Self-Aggression

描述（由申请人提供）：自杀和自我攻击领域的研究传统上依赖于非实验方法（例如，案例研究和相关发现）。虽然这些方法在确定致命和非致命的自我攻击行为的相关性方面很有用，但无法确定因果关系。一个类似的问题与侵略性的研究是通过使用实验室模拟的侵略。然而，早期试图建立一个实验室类似的自我攻击是方法上的缺陷，没有研究已经发表了近20年的实验室测量的自我攻击。拟议的调查将评估一个新开发的实验室自我攻击措施的有效性，使用主要是临床人口。参与者将包括108名患有DSM-IV边缘型人格障碍（BPD）的个体和27名无精神病理学的对照参与者，他们过去没有自我攻击行为。BPD受试者将根据他们的自杀行为史（过去尝试与过去没有尝试）和非自杀自伤行为（SIB与没有SIB）被分为四组。所有参与者将完成自我报告和访谈措施。一些措施将评估自我攻击的风险因素（例如，抑郁，绝望，冲动），而其他人将评估不相关的结构（例如，竞争力，社会期望）。已发现血小板5-羟色胺（5-HT）-2a受体结合增加与自杀行为呈正相关。因此，将抽取血液以评估血小板5- HT-2a受体密度。然后，参与者将开始自我攻击范式（SAP），他们将与一个虚构的对手竞争。在每次SAP试验之前，参与者将选择如果他们失去该试验将接受的电击水平。电击设置的范围从无电击到参与者认为是他们之前所说的非常不愉快的两倍的电击水平。SAP的结构有效性将通过以下方式证明：（1）在有自我攻击行为史的组中，显著更高的平均和最大自我选择电击，（2）SAP上的自我选择电击与其他已知的自我攻击相关性之间存在显著相关性，（3）BPD和无自我攻击行为史的非BPD组之间的自我选择电击无显著差异，（4）自我选择性休克与与自我攻击无关的构念之间无显著相关。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Research in the areas of suicide and self-aggression has traditionally relied on non-experimental methodologies (e.g., case studies and correlational findings). Though useful in identifying correlates of lethal and non-lethal acts of self-aggression, these methodologies are unable to specify causality. A similar problem with aggression research was addressed via the use of laboratory analogues of aggression. However, early attempts at creating a laboratory analogue of self-aggression were methodologically flawed, and no studies have been published using a laboratory measure of self-aggression for almost 20 years. The proposed investigation will assess the validity of a newly developed laboratory measure of self-aggression, using a largely clinical population. Participants will consist of 108 individuals with a DSM-IV Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and 27 psychopathology-free control participants with no past self-aggressive behavior. Participants with a BPD will be placed in one of four groups based on their history of suicidal behavior (past attempts vs. no past attempts) and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (SIB vs. no SIB). All participants will complete self-report and interview measures. Some measures will assess risk factors for self-aggression (e.g., depression, hopelessness, impulsivity), while others will assess unrelated constructs (e.g., competitiveness, social desirability). Increased platelet serotonin (5-HT)-2a receptor binding has been found to be positively correlated with suicidal behavior. Therefore, blood will be drawn to assess platelet 5- HT-2a receptor density. Participants will then begin the self-aggression paradigm (SAP) in which they will compete against a fictitious opponent. Prior to each of the SAP trials, participants will select the level of shock they will receive if they lose that trial. Shock settings will range from no shock to a shock level the participant believes is twice what they previously stated was very unpleasant. Construct validity for the SAP would be evidenced by: (1) significantly higher mean and maximum self-selected shocks among groups with a history of self-aggressive behaviors, (2) significant correlations between self-selected shocks on the SAP and other known correlates of self-aggression, (3) non-significant differences for self-selected shock between the BPD and non-BPD groups with no history of self-aggressive behaviors, and (4) non-significant correlations between self-selected shock and constructs unrelated to self-aggression.