Mood instability contributes to impulsivity, non‐suicidal self‐injury, and binge eating/purging in people with anxiety disorders

Abstract

Many patients with anxiety disorders experience mood instability, which is associated with impulsivity, non-suicidal self-injury, and binge eating/purging. Treating mood instability alongside anxiety may help reduce impulsivity, non-suicidal self-injury, and binge eating/purging in people with anxiety disorders.

Risk factors for nonsuicidal self-injury: A review of the evidence

“…58,59 Anxiety disorders (including generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, and agoraphobia) as well as anxiety-related disorders such as obsessivecompulsive disorder have been significantly associated with NSSI (P < .001), but this relationship decreased in strength when mood instability was removed as a confounder. 58 Among patients with anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, panic disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have shown the strongest association with NSSI, with pooled aORs of 2.67 and 2.06, respectively. 59 Recent studies have examined the association of other mental health disorders and symptoms with NSSI, including psychosis 60 and dissociative symptoms.…”

The Relationship Between Self-Harm Behavior, Personality, and Parental Separation: A Systematic Literature Review

“…The seven articles conclude that impulsivity contributes to self-harm behavior. There is also an article which explains that there is a relationship between anxiety and impulsivity [22].…”

“…An individual with high neuroticism has low self-control and has more difficulty controlling their impulsive behavior [26]. An individual who practices self-harm usually has high impulsivity [22]. It can be concluded that an individual with high neuroticism is likely to practice self-harm.…”

Impulsivity, Attachment, and Relational Psychopathology

“…Combinations of these illnesses then lead to marked impulsivity, diagnostic overlap, co-morbidity and more severe impairments. [1][2][3][4] For example, Meier's intriguing study (pp. 555-560) discovers that people with a combination of ADHD and anxiety have a substantially greater risk of bipolar disorder when compared with those with no prior ADHD or anxiety.…”

“…Anxiety, post-traumatic syndromes, eating disorders, and psychoses can all present with impulsivity. Combinations of these illnesses then lead to marked impulsivity, diagnostic overlap, co-morbidity and more severe impairments 1 – 4 . For example, Meier's intriguing study (pp.…”