Associations between peripheral plasma cytokine levels and patterns of non-suicidal self-injury methods among Chinese outpatient adolescents: a latent class analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) exhibits a high prevalence among adolescents. It is common for adolescents to employ multiple methods of NSSI, and these behaviors can manifest in diverse combinations. This study employs latent class analysis (LCA) to identify subgroups of adolescents based on the methods of NSSI and investigates the association between peripheral plasma cytokine levels and the identified NSSI patterns. METHODS: The research enrolled 405 outpatient adolescents, ranging in age from 12 to 18 years, who had exhibited NSSI behavior. These participants completed the Adolescent Non-suicidal Self-Injury Behavior Questionnaire (ANSAQ) and assessments of plasma cytokine levels. Latent class indicators consisted of 12 NSSI variables. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the associations between the identified classes and the related cytokines. RESULTS: LCA results supported a three-class model, categorizing participants into multiple methods group (24.20%), moderate methods group (43.70%), and mild/singular method group (32.10%). Further multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals with higher levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were more likely to be classified into the multiple-methods group compared to those in the mild/singular-method group (OR = 1.233 for IL-2; OR = 1.634 for IL-10). Additionally, individuals with elevated IL-10 levels were more likely to be classified into the multiple-methods group compared to those in the moderate-methods group (OR = 1.454). Furthermore, relative to individuals in the mild/singular-method group, those with higher IL-2 levels were more likely to belong to the moderate-methods group (OR = 1.207). These findings suggest a significant association between IL-2 and IL-10 levels and the severity of NSSI behaviors. CONCLUSION: The classification of adolescents based on NSSI methods indicates that elevated levels of IL-2 and IL-10 increase the risk of engaging in NSSI involving multiple methods in adolescents. This has potential implications for understanding risk factors and developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies.