This research sought to determine whether there was a link between idiopathic pain and self-injury/suicide. After surveying over 5,000 students in Germany, researchers discovered that there is a significant increased risk of self-injury (SI) and suicide attempt when a person experiences chronic pain. The reason why is undetermined, but hypotheses include that psychopathology is a consequence of chronic pain, or that psychopathology is a contributing factor to emotional distress. The exact biological underpinnings to self- injury as it relates to recurring pain is unknown as of yet, however both involve altered functioning of the endogenous opioid system. Potential alteration of pain processing due to chronic pain may be a factor in the
