scholarly journals The temptation of suicide: striatal gray matter, discounting of delayed rewards, and suicide attempts in late-life depression

2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1203-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Y. Dombrovski ◽  
G. J. Siegle ◽  
K. Szanto ◽  
L. Clark ◽  
C. F. Reynolds ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Delay Discounting ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Delay Aversion ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation

BackgroundConverging evidence implicates basal ganglia alterations in impulsivity and suicidal behavior. For example, D2/D3 agonists and subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson's disease (PD) trigger impulse control disorders and possibly suicidal behavior. Furthermore, suicidal behavior has been associated with structural basal ganglia abnormalities. Finally, low-lethality, unplanned suicide attempts are associated with increased discounting of delayed rewards, a behavior dependent upon the striatum. Thus, we tested whether, in late-life depression, changes in the basal ganglia were associated with suicide attempts and with increased delay discounting.MethodFifty-two persons aged ⩾60 years underwent extensive clinical and cognitive characterization: 33 with major depression [13 suicide attempters (SA), 20 non-suicidal depressed elderly] and 19 non-depressed controls. Participants had high-resolution T1-weighted magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient–echo (MPRAGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Basal ganglia gray matter voxel counts were estimated using atlas-based segmentation, with a highly deformable automated algorithm. Discounting of delayed rewards was assessed using the Monetary Choice Questionnaire (MCQ) and delay aversion with the Cambridge Gamble Task (CGT).ResultsSA had lower putamen but not caudate or pallidum gray matter voxel counts, compared to the control groups. This difference persisted after accounting for substance use disorders and possible brain injury from suicide attempts. SA with lower putamen gray matter voxel counts displayed higher delay discounting but not delay aversion. Secondary analyses revealed that SA had lower voxel counts in associative and ventral but not sensorimotor striatum.ConclusionsOur findings, although limited by small sample size and the case–control design, suggest that striatal lesions could contribute to suicidal behavior by increasing impulsivity.

scholarly journals Gray matter volume alterations associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in patients with mood disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengshuo Wang ◽  
Ran Zhang ◽  
Xiaowei Jiang ◽  
Shengnan Wei ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Mood Disorders ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Middle Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
Post Hoc

Abstract Background Mood disorders are severe mental disorders related to increased suicidal behavior. Finding neural features for suicidal behavior, including suicide attempts (SAs) and suicidal ideation (SI), in mood disorders may be helpful in preventing suicidal behavior. Methods Subjects consisted of 70 patients with mood disorders and suicidal behavior, 128 patients with mood disorders without suicidal behavior (mood disorders control, MC), and 145 health control (HC) individuals. All participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) techniques to examine gray matter volumes (GMVs). Results Significant differences were found in GMVs of the left and right middle frontal gyrus among the patients with mood disorders and suicidal behavior, MC, and HC. Post hoc comparisons showed significant differences in the GMVs of the above regions across all three groups (P < 0.01): HC > MC > mood disorders with suicidal behavior. However, there were no significant differences in the GMVs of the left and right middle frontal gyrus between the mood disorders with SI and mood disorders with SAs groups. Conclusions These findings provide evidence that abnormal regional GMV in the middle frontal gyrus is associated with suicidal behavior in mood disorders. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether the GMV alterations in mood disorders with SI are different from these in mood disorders with SAs.

scholarly journals Value-Based Choice, Contingency Learning, and Suicidal Behavior in Mid- and Late-Life Depression

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 506-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Y. Dombrovski ◽  
Michael N. Hallquist ◽  
Vanessa M. Brown ◽  
Jonathan Wilson ◽  
Katalin Szanto
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Contingency Learning ◽  
Late Life Depression

scholarly journals Reduction of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex gray matter in late-life depression

2011 ◽  
Vol 193 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Chen Chang ◽  
Shun-Chieh Yu ◽  
Douglas R. McQuoid ◽  
Denise F. Messer ◽  
Warren D. Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal

Aberrant topographical organization in gray matter structural network in late life depression: a graph theoretical analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 1929-1940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Kook Lim ◽  
Won Sang Jung ◽  
Howard J Aizenstein
Keyword(s):  
Gray Matter ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Brain Networks ◽  
Small World ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Clustering Coefficient ◽  
Cingulate Gyrus ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Structural Brain

ABSTRACTBackground:Although previous studies on late life depression (LLD) have shown morphological abnormalities in frontal–striatal–temporal areas, alterations in coordinated patterns of structural brain networks in LLD are still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in gray matter structural brain network between LLD and healthy controls.Methods:We used gray matter volume measurement from magnetic resonance imaging to investigate large-scale structural brain networks in 37 LLD patients and 40 normal controls. Brain networks were constructed by thresholding gray matter volume correlation matrices of 90 regions and analyzed using graph theoretical approaches.Results:Although both LLD and control groups showed a small-world organization of group networks, there were no differences in the clustering coefficient, the path length, and the small-world index across a wide range of network density. Compared with controls, LLD patients showed decreased nodal betweenness in the medial orbitofrontal and angular gyrus regions. In addition, LLD patients showed hub regions in superior temporal gyrus and middle cingulate gyrus, and putamen. On the other hand, the control group showed hub regions in the medial orbitofrontal gyrus, middle cingulate gyrus, and cuneus.Conclusion:Our findings suggest that the gray matter structural networks are not globally but regionally altered in LLD patients. This multivariate structural analysis using graph theory might provide a more appropriate paradigm for understanding complicated neurobiological mechanism of LLD.

scholarly journals Social Decision Making and Suicidal Behavior in Late-Life Depression

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 621-622
Author(s):  
Katalin Szanto
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Ultimatum Game ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Behavioral Experiments ◽  
Suicide Attempters ◽  
Social Motivations ◽  
Social Decision Making

Abstract Social motivations to engage in suicide in late life frequently include interpersonal problems and escape from perceived defeat. To describe decision making patterns that may contribute to the catastrophic decision to take one’s life, we used behavioral experiments and assessed cognitive abilities and personality traits. We found that neuroticism, low extraversion, and low conscientiousness characterize older adults who contemplate suicide and those with low-lethality suicide attempts. Employing a novel version of the Ultimatum Game, we measured empathy’s moderating response to social conflict. We found that older suicide attempters were less influenced by empathy scenarios, indicating that a failure to integrate others’ emotions into decisions may undermine social deterrents to suicide. To simulate social status loss, we used a newly developed, competitive task (rigged toward primarily losing outcomes) paired with performance ranking. We found that suicide attempters, especially those with narcissistic traits, engaged in more excessive compensatory behaviors than older non-attempters.

scholarly journals Lower regional gray matter volume in the absence of higher cortical amyloid burden in late-life depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiro Takamiya ◽  
Thomas Vande Casteele ◽  
Michel Koole ◽  
François-Laurent De Winter ◽  
Filip Bouckaert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Gray Matter Volume ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Amyloid Deposition ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Matter Volume

AbstractLate-life depression (LLD) is associated with a risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the role of AD-pathophysiology in LLD, and its association with clinical symptoms and cognitive function are elusive. In this study, one hundred subjects underwent amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [18F]-flutemetamol and structural MRI: 48 severely depressed elderly subjects (age 74.1 ± 7.5 years, 33 female) and 52 age-/gender-matched healthy controls (72.4 ± 6.4 years, 37 female). The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) were used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms and episodic memory function respectively. Amyloid deposition was quantified using the standardized uptake value ratio. Whole-brain voxel-wise comparisons of amyloid deposition and gray matter volume (GMV) between LLD and controls were performed. Multivariate analysis of covariance was conducted to investigate the association of regional differences in amyloid deposition and GMV with clinical factors, including GDS and RAVLT. As a result, there were no significant group differences in amyloid deposition. In contrast, LLD showed significant lower GMV in the left temporal and parietal region. GMV reduction in the left temporal region was associated with episodic memory dysfunction, but not with depression severity. Regional GMV reduction was not associated with amyloid deposition. LLD is associated with lower GMV in regions that overlap with AD-pathophysiology, and which are associated with episodic memory function. The lack of corresponding associations with amyloid suggests that lower GMV driven by non-amyloid pathology may play a central role in the neurobiology of LLD presenting as a psychiatric disorder.Trial registration: European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials identifier: EudraCT 2009-018064-95.

scholarly journals A longitudinal study of the association between basal ganglia volumes and psychomotor symptoms in subjects with late life depression undergoing ECT

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. A. Van Cauwenberge ◽  
F. Bouckaert ◽  
K. Vansteelandt ◽  
C. Adamson ◽  
F. L. De Winter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Caudate Nucleus ◽  
Globus Pallidus ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Core Element ◽  
Left Caudate ◽  
The Right

AbstractPsychomotor dysfunction (PMD) is a core element and key contributor to disability in late life depression (LLD), which responds well to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The neurobiology of PMD and its response to ECT are not well understood. We hypothesized that PMD in LLD is associated with lower striatal volume, and that striatal volume increase following ECT explains PMD improvement. We analyzed data from a two-center prospective cohort study of 110 LLD subjects (>55 years) receiving ECT. Brain MRI and assessment of mood, cognition, and PMD was performed 1 week before, 1 week after, and 6 months after ECT. Volumetry of the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and nucleus accumbens was derived from automatically segmented brain MRIs using Freesurfer®. Linear multiple regression analyses were used to study associations between basal ganglia volume and PMD. Brain MRI was available for 66 patients 1 week post ECT and in 22 patients also six months post ECT. Baseline PMD was associated with a smaller left caudate nucleus. One week after ECT, PMD improved and volume increases were detected bilaterally in the caudate nucleus and putamen, and in the right nucleus accumbens. Improved PMD after ECT did not relate to the significant volume increases in these structures, but was predicted by a nonsignificant volume change in the right globus pallidus. No volume differences were detected 6 months after ECT, compared to baseline. Although PMD is related to lower striatal volume in LLD, ECT-induced increase of striatal volume does not explain PMD improvement.

Social withdrawal and suicide risk: A descriptive study

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S175-S175 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Malagon ◽  
D. Córcoles ◽  
E. Pérez ◽  
L. Mollà ◽  
D. Bergé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Social Withdrawal ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Age At Onset ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Major Health Problem

IntroductionSocial withdrawal is a major health problem that has been related with higher morbidity and mortality rates. There are few studies about the relationship between suicidal behavior and social isolation.AimTo describe the existence of suicidal risk in subjects with social isolation.MethodParticipants were 187 subjects referred to a Crisis Resolution Home Treatment because of social isolation. The inclusion criteria were: home isolation, avoiding of social situations and relationships, for at least 6 months. Suicide risk was assessed by the item of the Severity of Psychiatric Illness, dividing in four groups (from absence to high suicide risk). Socio-demographic and clinical data were also analysed.ResultsMost cases (n = 132, 70.5%) had absence of suicide risk. They were predominantly young males in all groups. There were no statistically significant differences in sociodemographic or clinical variables. The mean age at onset of social isolation was lower in the high suicide risk group, having lower socially withdrawn period. This group had also lower rates of child abuse and suicide attempt history. The more frequent diagnosis in all groups was psychotic, affective and anxiety disorders. Those cases with mild and high suicide risk needed more frequently hospitalization.ConclusionsSocial isolated people attended by CRHT do not have high frequency of suicide risk. Cases with higher suicide risk are younger and have a shorter period of isolation. The absence of child abuse history or previous suicide attempts contrasts with previous suicidal behavior research. These data can be influenced by the characteristics of functioning of CRHT and the small sample size.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Predictors of serious suicidal behavior in late-life depression

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katalin Szanto ◽  
Hanga Galfalvy ◽  
Laura Kenneally ◽  
Rebeka Almasi ◽  
Alexandre Y Dombrovski
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Late Life Depression
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