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Historically, the rates of completed suicide among African American individuals have been relatively low. However, the past 50 years have witnessed a significant rise in suicide rates among this population. In an effort to understand this trend, this article reviews relevant demographic data and empirical and clinical findings regarding the clinical presentations of suicidal behavior among African Americans across the life span. The major psychodynamic, psychosocial, and sociocultural theories offered as explanations for the incidence and nature of suicidal behavior among African Americans also are discussed. It is hoped that this systematic review will lead to more meaningful empirical investigations of the myriad factors associated with the unfortunate increase in suicidal behaviors in this population.

Relationship between mood disturbances and free and total plasma tryptophan in postpartum women Mild disturbances of mood occur in 50-70",, of women in the postpartum period,' when they may begin to cry for no apparent reason. 0 075±i0±003 5967± 1-5 Difference from controls: *P<0.05; **P<0 001. Difference from ranks 15-18: tP<0-02; ttP<0 05. Conversion: SI to traditional units-Plasma tryptophan: 1 ,umol/lz 0 2 ,tg/ml.

Poverty is the single largest social determinant of health and a major precipitator of emotional distress and mental illness. Deep poverty, which designates those living in the bottom half of the poverty level, produces disproportionately adverse effects on education, work opportunities, physical and mental health, social support, and overall success and well-being, such that the cycle of deep poverty is frequently perpetuated through intergenerational susceptibility. Because of the highly complex, multifaceted nature of deep poverty, the most optimal way to address deep poverty-related issues is to use an integrated approach across multiple levels of interventions. We provide a review of current deep poverty literature and present evidence-based approaches for clinicians to consider integrating into their practices across psychobehavioral, psychosocial, psychobiological, psycho-environmental, and psycho-societal levels. In addition, given the cyclical relationship between deep poverty and mental health, the benefits of broadening the current diagnostic nomenclature to differentiate between psychological and social situational triggers in maladaptive functioning are briefly discussed.

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