Does State Dissociation Mediate the Relation Between Alcohol Intoxication and Deliberate Self-Harm?

OBJECTIVE: Research supports the notion that alcohol intoxication is a risk-factor for deliberate self-harm (DSH). However, the underlying mechanisms for this relationship are poorly understood. We aimed to determine whether alcohol-induced dissociation mediated alcohol's effects on DSH.

METHODS: We used data from a dose-response study of alcohol intoxication and DSH to test the proposed model. Participants were assigned to reach target blood-alcohol concentrations (BAC) ranging from 0.00% through 0.10% and then completed a behavioral measure of DSH. Dissociation was assessed using the Alcohol Dissociative Experiences Scale.

RESULTS: BAC predicted both dissociation and DSH, but dissociation did not predict DSH.

CONCLUSION: Although research on clinical populations suggests dissociation is related to DSH, our findings suggest dissociation does not mediate the effects of alcohol on self-harm.