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之间的相关性方面很有用，但它们无法具体说明因果关系。攻击研究的一个类似问题是通过使用攻击的实验室类似物来解决的。然而，早期建立实验室模拟自我攻击的尝试在方法上存在缺陷，并且近20年来没有发表过使用实验室测量自我攻击的研究。拟议的调查将评估一个新开发的实验室测量自我攻击的有效性，使用大量临床人群。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名没有过去自我攻击行为的无精神病理对照的参与者。患有BPD的参与者将根据他们的自杀行为史（过去有过自杀企图vs.没有自杀企图）和非自杀性自残行为（有自杀倾向vs.没有自杀倾向）被分为四组。所有参与者将完成自我报告和访谈测量。一些测量将评估自我攻击的风险因素（如抑郁、绝望、冲动），而另一些将评估不相关的构念（如竞争力、社会可取性）。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，将抽血评估血小板5- HT-2a受体密度。然后，参与者将开始自我攻击范式（SAP），在这个范式中，他们将与一个虚构的对手竞争。在每个SAP试验之前，参与者将选择如果他们在试验中失败他们将受到的电击程度。电击设置的范围从无电击到参与者认为电击水平是他们之前所说的非常不愉快的两倍。SAP的结构效度将通过以下方式证明：(1)有自我攻击行为史的组的自我选择冲击均值和最大值显著高于有自我攻击行为史的组，(2)自我选择冲击与其他已知的自我攻击相关因素显著相关，(3)无自我攻击行为史的BPD组与无BPD组的自我选择冲击差异不显著，(4)自我选择冲击与与自我攻击无关的构念之间不显著相关。

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.