The current study tested hypotheses derived from Joiner’s (2005) interpersonal theory of suicide, which proposes that deliberate self-harm becomes increasingly more reinforcing with repetition. 106 participants with a history of deliberate self-harm completed questionnaires about their emotions & experience of physical pain during their most recent deliberate self-harm episode. Consistent with prediction, people with more numerous past episodes felt more soothed, more relieved, & calmer following their most recent episode of deliberate self-harm. Contrary to prediction, greater numbers of past deliberate self-harm episodes were associated with more intense physical pain during the most recent episode. (29 refs.) JA