Self-injury and changes of hormone level / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Self-injury has become a significant public health problem, especially happens in adolescents. Previous studies have suggested that self-injury is related to numerous factors. At present, the occurrence mechanism of self-injury is still unclear, and there is a lack of reliable biological markers in its diagnosis and therapeutic target so far. Previous studies have suggested that self-injury may be related to hypothalamic pituitary adrenal(HPA) axis, β-endorphins, opioids and other hormones. Hypothalamic pituitary thyroid(HPT) axis and hypothalamic pituitary gonadal(HPG) axis are endocrine systems connecting nerves and hormones. Many studies suggested that various hormones in HPT axis and HPG axis of self-injury patients with other mental disorders (such as major depression and bipolar disorder) were abnormal. At present, there are few studies on the relationship between self-injury and HPT axis and HPG axis. There are differences in results even among studies on the same hormones, and some studies involve suicide attempts and even behaviors. Some studies have confirmed that self-injury is related to suicide, expanding the possibility of exploring the correlation between self-injury and hormones. This study will review the relationship between self-injury and hormonal changes.