1. BeYoND (Behavioral and Brain Trajectories for Youth with NSSI-D)
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Young Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study of Risk Factors and Mental Health Trajectories
This study aims to examine the longitudinal course of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among young adults in South Korea. We conducted a large-scale, survey-based cohort study involving over 2,000 individuals aged 18 to 29, including more than 1,000 participants with a history of NSSI. Participants were assessed at three time points over a one-year period, with 6-month intervals between assessments. Based on self-reported NSSI history, participants were categorized into three groups: current NSSI, remitted NSSI, and no history of NSSI (control). The study measured a wide range of variables, including demographic characteristics, NSSI frequency and functions, mental health indicators (e.g., depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and behaviors), psychological risk factors (e.g., emotion dysregulation, impulsivity), and distal risk factors (e.g., adverse childhood experiences, emotionally invalidating environments).
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) shows dynamic patterns during the twenties. While previous research indicates that 50% to 80% of individuals tend to stop self-injuring during this developmental period, a considerable number continue to engage in NSSI or even begin for the first time—suggesting a second onset peak in young adulthood. Our study captured these diverse trajectories by tracking individuals with recent, past, or no history of NSSI over 12 months.
Neural Connectivity in NSSI: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study
This study investigates alterations in structural brain connectivity in young adults engaging in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Using probabilistic tractography, we examine group differences in white matter connectivity and explore how these alterations relate to difficulties in emotion processing (e.g., Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale scores) and NSSI characteristics, including frequency, method versatility, and function. Key tracts of interest include thalamic pathways, implicated in sensory relay and emotion regulation, and striatal circuits, associated with reward processing and impulse control.
Altered Cortical Gyrification Morphology in Nonsucidal Self-injury
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) involves deliberate and direct damage to one’s body tissues without suicidal intention. The prevalence of NSSI is even progressively increasing with time. Delineating neurodevelopmental trajectories of NSSI symptoms is important for understanding the vulnerability of NSSI. The discrepancy in occurrence rates between adolescents and adults likewise implies the significance of neurodevelopmental features.
This study examined cortical gyrification morphology in individuals with NSSI, one of the most prevalent mental disorders in adolescents and young adults. We sought to compare cortical morphological abnormalities in the local gyrification index (lGI), the ratio of the smooth cortical surface area at each vertex to the corresponding sulcal folds, between individuals with NSSI and controls. In addition, the study explores correlations between lGI, a stable neurodevelopmental marker of cortical and subcortical circuit integrity, and clinical measures in NSSI individuals.
Altered Neural Activities in Effort-based Decision-making Among Nonsuicidal Self-injury
We investigate the neural mechanisms of effort-based decision making (EBDM) in individuals with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). EBDM refers to how people weigh potential rewards against the cognitive and physical effort required to obtain them, a process that can shape motivation and adaptive functioning.
Our research highlights that individuals with NSSI may allocate cognitive resources differently during reward-related decision making. By identifying distinct neural activation patterns, this work offers new insight into how altered effort and reward valuation could contribute to self-injurious behavior. These findings underscore the importance of developing targeted interventions that can support healthier cognitive resource allocation and decision-making strategies in this population.
2. PROCESS-A (PROspective Cohort study Examining Self-harm and suicide in Adolescents)
fMRI Investigation of Spontaneous Thought Dynamics
Free Association Semantic Task (FAST) is a novel paradigm designed to examine the dynamics of spontaneous thought and self-referential processing. In this task, participants respond to a series of pre-selected seed words by freely generating chains of associated words that reflect their personal and emotional thought processes.
We conduct fMRI studies to investigate the altered neural dynamics and semantic network structures underlying these associations in young adults with and without a history of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). The experiment consists of three phases. First, outside the scanner, participants generate word chains in response to four seed words. Second, during the fMRI scan, they reflect on the meaning and context of each word they generated, engaging in self-referential thought. Finally, after the scan, participants rate each word on valence, self-relevance, time perspective, and threat-safety.
This approach enables a personalized and ecologically valid investigation of internal cognitive-affective patterns, offering insights into the neural and psychological mechanisms underlying vulnerability to self-injurious behavior.
Exploring Reinforcement Learning in NSSI Using the Reinforcement Learning Task
fMRI scans using the ‘Reinforcement Learning Task’ are performed after the pre-scan survey. In this study, we are conducting a series of fMRI experiments to investigate the neural mechanisms of reinforcement learning in adolescents with NSSI. Specifically, we employ a probabilistic learning task to examine potential alterations in reward and punishment processing. To examine how adolescents with NSSI encode reward and punishment prediction errors, participants go through multiple series of probabilistic trials.
Irritability and Frustrative Non-Reward in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Task-Based fMRI Study
This study aims to investigate neural patterns of reward processing under frustration in young adults with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) using the ‘Frustration task’. In neuroscience research, irritability is often conceptualized as elevated proneness to frustration in response to blocked reward attainment. During the fMRI scans, participants are asked to press a button as quickly as possible to hit a target filled with stars. In 60% of correctly hitting trials, the expected reward is intentionally withheld to elicit frustration. We focus on the ‘feedback periods’ and the subsequent ‘n+1 anticipation periods’ to examine irritability-related neural alteration and recovery effect from frustration.
Development and Validation of the NSSI Severity Scale
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is a growing public health concern, yet a comprehensive understanding of the psychological constructs that drive this behavior remains limited. Existing literature and research often address a narrow range of factors, which may fail to capture the full, multidimensional nature of the NSSI. To advance the development of more effective and individualized clinical interventions, it is essential to explore and validate the distinct psychological dimensions associated with this complex behavior.
We aim to develop and validate a new scale to capture the multifaceted nature of NSSI: the NSSI Severity Scale. By clarifying distinct profiles, this study seeks to provide a more nuanced understanding of individuals who engage in NSSI, thereby creating a foundation for therapeutic approaches that are more tailored and effective.
3. STEAM
Development and Verification of a VR-based Anxiety Symptom Regulation Program
This study aims to develop a Virtual-Reality based Anxiety symptom regulation program (Mindlight 3) and verify whether this digital intervention to be practical for the regulation of anxiety.
VR-based Digital intervention (Mindlight 3) aims to decrease and regulate anxiety through exposure therapy. We will conduct a study to investigate the effectiveness of VRET (VR-based Exposure Therapy) on social anxiety and other related psychological issues with self-report measurement and the collection of digital phenotypes.
Self-report measurements were administered at four time points: before the initiation of the first VR session, immediately following the third session, after the completion of the sixth session, and at a 3-month follow-up. Digital phenotyping data(sensor data, anxiety, depression, etc.) were collected during the entire VR session period through the use of the Pixelmood application.
With this data, we will conduct the study to examine whether VR-based digital intervention is practical to regulate social anxiety. We also conduct systematic review and meta-analysis to generalize the effect of digital interventions on social anxiety and other related mental issues.
Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Korean Version of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)
Social camouflaging refers to the conscious or unconscious cognitive and behavioral strategies used to navigate social challenges or adapt to social environments, especially crucial for individuals on the autism spectrum. To assess camouflaging behaviors, the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) was developed based on the experiences of autistic adults in the UK (Hull et al., 2019). This self-report instrument serves as a promising tool in clinical and research settings. Recognizing the global interest in camouflaging of both neurotypical and neurodiverse individuals, we conducted a validation study of the Korean version of the CAT-Q in a general population sample of 1,079 adults.