title: Affective instability and impulsivity predict nonsuicidal self-injury in the general population: a longitudinal analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impulsivity and affective instability are related traits known to be associated with nonsuicidal self-injury, although few longitudinal studies have examined this relationship. The purpose of this study was to determine if impulsivity and affective instability predict future nonsuicidal self-injury in the general population while accounting for the overlap between these traits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Logistic regression analyses were conducted on data from 2344 participants who completed an 18-month follow-up of the 2000 British National Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Affective instability and impulsivity were assessed at baseline with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders. Nonsuicidal self-injury was assessed at baseline and follow-up during semi-structured interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Affective instability and impulsivity predicted the onset of nonsuicidal self-injury during the follow-up period. Affective instability, but not impulsivity, predicted the continuation of nonsuicidal self-injury during the follow-up period. Affective instability accounted for part of the relationship between impulsivity and nonsuicidal self-injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Affective instability and impulsivity are important predictors of nonsuicidal self-injury in the general population. It may be more useful to target affective instability over impulsivity for the treatment of nonsuicidal self-injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N0W8 Canada.
authors.forename: Evyn M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N0W8 Canada.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baetz
authors.affiliation: Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK ; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Service, Caludon Centre, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marwaha
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N0W8 Canada.
authors.forename: Lloyd
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balbuena
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N0W8 Canada.
authors.forename: Rudy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bowen
keywords: Affective instability; Borderline personality; Emotional dysregulation; Impulsivity; Mood instability; Nonsuicidal self-injury