Genetic influences on suicide and nonfatal suicidal behavior: Twin study findings

Pedersen, Nancy L.; Fiske, Amy

doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.12.008

Cited by 78 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Moreover, similar influence of environmental factors has been reported in twins where suicide concordance rate is 5.6% (1/18) in monozygotic (MZ) twin versus 0% (0/21) in dizygotic (DZ) twins (Kallman, 1953). Another study shows a similar pattern with an increasing incidence of suicide in 20% MZ and 3% in DZ (Pedersen and Fiske, 2010). Therefore, the involvement of genetic components is more likely to increase the risk of suicide incidences with a strong background of heritable predisposition.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Understanding epigenetic architecture of suicide neurobiology: A critical perspective

Roy

Dwivedi

2017

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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Current understanding of environmental cross-talk with genetic makeup is found to be mediated through an epigenetic interface which is associated with prominent reversible and heritable changes at gene expression level. Recent emergence of epigenetic modulation in shaping the genetic information has become a key regulatory factor in answering the underlying complexities associated with several mental disorders. A comprehensive understanding of the pertinent changes in the epigenetic makeup of suicide phenotype exhibits a characteristic signature with the possibility of using it as a biomarker to help predict the risk factors associated with suicide. Within the scope of this current review, the most sought after epigenetic changes of DNA methylation and histone modification are thoroughly scrutinized to understand their close functional association with the broad spectrum of suicide phenotype.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Understanding epigenetic architecture of suicide neurobiology: A critical perspective

Roy

Dwivedi

2017

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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“…In their study of 5995 Australian twins, Statham et al (1998) found a heritability of 44% for suicidal behavior, which was unchanged when controlling for other psychiatric symptoms. In a study of 38,469 twin pairs from the Swedish Twin Registry the concordance rate for lethal suicide in female MZ twins was 11% higher than the rate for female DZ twins, whereas the rate for male MZ twins was only 1% higher than that of male DZ twins (Pedersen and Fiske, 2010). These findings indicate the potential for a stronger genetic contribution to lethal suicide in females versus males.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Genetic and environmental contributions to self‐reported thoughts of self‐harm and suicide

Althoff

Hudziak

Willemsen³

et al. 2011

American J of Med Genetics Pt B

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Thoughts of self-harm and suicidal behavior are thought to be influenced by both genetics and environment. Molecular genetic studies are beginning to address the question of which genes may be involved and whether different genes may be expressed in men and women. We examined thoughts of self-harm and suicidal behavior in a large general population twin sample including male and female same- and opposite-sex twins. In this study, data on self-reported thoughts of self-harm and suicide were obtained from self-report questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory and Youth or Adult Self Report forms) in 6265 twin pairs (11,008 individuals) aged 11–90 (62% female) from the Netherlands Twin Registry. Liability threshold models were compared including sex and age (linear and quadratic) effects. Models were compared using measures of parsimony to calculate the simplest model to the data. A model with additive genetic and unique environmental contributions fitted the data for both males and females. There were no qualitative sex differences, but the relative contributions differed between men and women. Heritability was higher in women (0.74, 95% CI 0.65 – 0.81) than men (0.45, 95% CI 0.28 – 0.61). The remaining variance was accounted for by environmental influence unique to an individual. These results suggest contributions from additive genetic factors to self-reported thoughts of self-harm and suicide and support the continued study of both molecular genetic and individual-specific environmental risk factors.

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“…Apart from monoaminergic systems, other gene x environment (GxE) interactions involving glutamatergic, GABAergic and corticotrophin related genes are being investigated, as well as genes involved in neurotrophic processes (particularly the gene encoding BDNF) or in inflammatory processes (Mandelli and Serretti 2013;Perroud et al 2008). Independently of psychopathology, concordance rates of suicidal behavior ranging from 6 to 35 % have been reported in studies examining monozygotic twins (Pedersen and Fiske 2010). Of note, although the transmission of suicidal behavior across generations seems to be independent of Axis-I disorders, it could be mediated by intermediate phenotypes (endophenotypes), like impulsive aggression or hopelessness (Courtet et al 2011).…”

Section: Current Directions: Genetics Neuroimaging and Neuropsychologymentioning

confidence: 98%

Stress and Vulnerability: A Developing Model for Suicidal Risk

López-Castromán

Olié

Courtet

2014

Suicide: Phenomenology and Neurobiology

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A large body of research built over the last few decades examines the interaction between stressful events and vulnerability traits to explain how a person becomes suicidal. This stress-diathesis model has been extremely fruitful to improve our understanding of suicidal behavior, but recent findings suggest that interactions could be more complex than expected. Indeed, environmental insults during pregnancy, childhood, or adolescence induce neurodevelopmental changes that increase the vulnerability for suicidal behavior in later life. In this chapter, we will outline the significance of recent neurodevelopmental findings for the stressvulnerability factors of suicidal behavior. The coherence and applicability of an integrative neurodevelopmental model of suicidal behavior will be discussed in the light of current research concerning genetics, neuroimaging, and neuropsychology, and the new classification systems. IntroductionDespite treatment and prevention advances on major psychiatric disorders, suicidal behavior still constitutes a major public health problem. Research into this behavior has increased exponentially during the last decade, and a complex network of factors, both predisposing and triggering the suicidal acts, is being unraveled. This dynamic network connects mental disorders, life experiences, social and familial interactions, physical illness, and neurobiology into what is known as the suicidal process. However, until a deeper understanding of the relationships between these factors is developed, crucial issues such as yielding an accurate prediction of future suicidal acts or determining the best treatment for suicidal patients remain distant.

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Genetic influences on suicide and nonfatal suicidal behavior: Twin study findings

Cited by 78 publications

References 21 publications

Understanding epigenetic architecture of suicide neurobiology: A critical perspective

Understanding epigenetic architecture of suicide neurobiology: A critical perspective

Genetic and environmental contributions to self‐reported thoughts of self‐harm and suicide

Stress and Vulnerability: A Developing Model for Suicidal Risk

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