Genetic contributions to suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Abstract

Suicidal ideation, suicide attempt (SA) and suicide are significantly heritable phenotypes. However, the extent to which these phenotypes share genetic architecture is unclear. This question is of great relevance to determining key risk factors for suicide, and to alleviate the societal burden of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). To help address the question of heterogeneity, consortia efforts have recently shifted from a focus on suicide within the context of major psychopathology (e.g. major depressive disorder, schizophrenia) to suicide as an independent entity. Recent molecular studies of suicide risk by members of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and the International Suicide Genetics Consortium have identified genome-wide significant loci associated with SA and with suicide death, and have examined these phenotypes within and outside of the context of major psychopathology. This review summarizes important insights from epidemiological and biometrical research on suicide, and discusses key empirical findings from molecular genetic examinations of STBs. Polygenic risk scores for these phenotypes have been observed to be associated with case−control status and other risk phenotypes. In addition, estimated shared genetic covariance with other phenotypes suggests specific medical and psychiatric risks beyond major depressive disorder. Broadly, molecular studies suggest a complexity of suicide etiology that cannot simply be accounted for by depression. Discussion of the state of suicide genetics, a growing field, also includes important ethical and clinical implications of studying the genetic risk of suicide.

Phenomic Network Analysis for Depression Reveals Comorbidity Architecture, Genomic Relationships, and Pleiotropic Variants

“…Significant genetic correlations have been validated by our results between depression and psychiatric traits (anxiety and suicidal ideation) (70; 27) We also identified links connecting depression with GORD, BMI, chronic gastritis, and osteoarthrosis, reinforcing the complexity of depression’s etiology. Strong clinical relationships between the digestive system and psychiatric conditions have been known for over 35 years (31; 100).…”

A Systematic Review on Suicide and Youth: Biological, Psychological, Social and Environmental Risk Factors

“…Familial and genetic predisposition is identified as a contributing factor to suicide behaviors. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are moderately heritable, with a significant proportion of risk attributed to genetic variation (DiBlasi et al, 2021). Familial research has reported that genetic variation is significantly contributing to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (DiBlasi et al, 2021).…”

“…Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are moderately heritable, with a significant proportion of risk attributed to genetic variation (DiBlasi et al, 2021). Familial research has reported that genetic variation is significantly contributing to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (DiBlasi et al, 2021). Besides, suicide attempts are transmitted independently of psychiatric comorbidities (DiBlasi et al, 2021;Turecki et al, 2019).…”

“…Familial research has reported that genetic variation is significantly contributing to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (DiBlasi et al, 2021). Besides, suicide attempts are transmitted independently of psychiatric comorbidities (DiBlasi et al, 2021;Turecki et al, 2019). The results from previous twin and adoption studies revealed that the heritability of suicide behavior is ranging from 30% to 50% (DiBlasi et al, 2021;Turecki et al, 2019).…”

Ethical concerns relating to genetic risk scores for suicide

“…A published "road map" for genetic counseling in psychiatry explains this well (Austin, 2020). For both polygenic risks and more specific risk genes or gene pathways, for the foreseeable future, the effect on the risk of suicidal behavior for a specific individual will be almost infinitesimally small, given complex interactions with other individual-specific genetic factors and environmental risks (DiBlasi, Kang, & Docherty, 2021).…”