Childhood maltreatment affects functional changes in neurovascular coupling in non-suicidal self-injury behavior in adolescents

Motivation: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is an important risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Goal(s): The objective of this study is to investigate altered neurovascular coupling(NVC) and its clinical significance in NSSI with or without CM. Approach: We utilize the interaction of regional homogeneity (ReHo) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) to investigate altered NVC. Results: The results show that the NVC is diminished in the left rolandic operculum (ROL.L) and left medial superior frontal gyrus (SFGmed.L). NVC and CM had good power in classifying NSSI adolescents. Impact: This study demonstrated the presence of altered NVC in NSSI adolescents. These findings provide new neuroimaging markers for understanding the impact of CM on the development of NSSI behaviors and for early identification and precise intervention in NSSI adolescents.