Endogenous opioids and nonsuicidal self-injury: A mechanism of affect regulation

► One possible function of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is affect regulation. ► Endogenous opioids may be involved in affect regulation via NSSI. ► We propose that individuals who engage in NSSI have low resting opioid levels. ► We also proposed that NSSI releases opioids which regulate affect.