Neurobiological mechanisms of emotional relief (NeuroMech) V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Neurobiological mechanisms of emotional relief in adolescents with a history of sexual abuse
IRAS ID
257538
Contact name
Pia Pechtel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter, Research Ethics and Goverance Officer
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
Adolescents with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) seek relief from distress using nonsuicidal self-harm (NSSI) more often than their non-abused peers and peers who experienced other abuse. Although NSSI provides temporary emotional relief, it also increases risk for suicide and hospitalizations. Currently, effective therapies to support adolescents with NSSI are sparse. This is likely due to our lack in understanding how and why relief through NSSI is achieved in young people with CSA.
Our research goals are (1) to identify the brain processes when non-abused, healthy adolescents and adolescents with history of CSA and self-harm experience emotional relief (e.g., heat as an NSSI-proxy) using functional magnetic neuroimaging, (2) to explore if those with CSA who self-harm use different decisions when faced with an unpleasant tone (i.e., choosing to actively escape unpleasant tone more quickly) and (3) how these brain responses and decisions are related to real-life NSSI.
At the first visit, participants will be invited to complete self-report measures (well-being, childhood experiences, NSSI) and a behavioural paradigm to examine their decision-making processes when faced with an aversive tone. At the second visit, participants will complete tasks assessing their emotional arousal to an adolescent-typical stressor (social exclusion) and reminder words of a difficult life event, before monitoring their responses to emotional relief (reversal of social exclusion; heat stimulus as NSSI-proxy).
The study has been reviewed and funded by Wellcome Trust. Around sixty females (14-18 years) will be recruited in collaboration with adolescent mental health services, schools in the area and from the community.
Findings are thought to highlight how relief from NSSI is achieved and what makes young people more vulnerable to using NSSI. This information will be critical to developing more effective intervention strategies to keep vulnerable teenagers safe from NSSI after experiences of sexual abuse.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0150
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion