scholarly journals Psychobiological risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adolescence: a consideration of the role of puberty

Author(s):  
Tiffany C. Ho ◽  
Anthony J. Gifuni ◽  
Ian H. Gotlib

AbstractSuicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents. While clinicians and researchers have begun to recognize the importance of considering multidimensional factors in understanding risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) during this developmental period, the role of puberty has been largely ignored. In this review, we contend that the hormonal events that occur during puberty have significant effects on the organization and development of brain systems implicated in the regulation of social stressors, including amygdala, hippocampus, striatum, medial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex. Guided by previous experimental work in adults, we also propose that the influence of pubertal hormones and social stressors on neural systems related to risk for STBs is especially critical to consider in adolescents with a neurobiological sensitivity to hormonal changes. Furthermore, facets of the pubertal transition, such as pubertal timing, warrant deeper investigation and may help us gain a more comprehensive understanding of sex differences in the neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms underlying adolescent STBs. Ultimately, advancing our understanding of the pubertal processes that contribute to suicide risk will improve early detection and facilitate the development of more effective, sex-specific, psychiatric interventions for adolescents.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
James R. P. Knowles ◽  
Nicola S. Gray ◽  
Chris O’Connor ◽  
Jennifer Pink ◽  
Nicola J. Simkiss ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 1218-1227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariah Hawes ◽  
Igor Galynker ◽  
Shira Barzilay ◽  
Zimri S. Yaseen

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 408-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lianne Schmaal ◽  
Anne-Laura van Harmelen ◽  
Vasiliki Chatzi ◽  
Elizabeth T. C. Lippard ◽  
Yara J. Toenders ◽  
...  

AbstractIdentifying brain alterations that contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are important to develop more targeted and effective strategies to prevent suicide. In the last decade, and especially in the last 5 years, there has been exponential growth in the number of neuroimaging studies reporting structural and functional brain circuitry correlates of STBs. Within this narrative review, we conducted a comprehensive review of neuroimaging studies of STBs published to date and summarize the progress achieved on elucidating neurobiological substrates of STBs, with a focus on converging findings across studies. We review neuroimaging evidence across differing mental disorders for structural, functional, and molecular alterations in association with STBs, which converges particularly in regions of brain systems that subserve emotion and impulse regulation including the ventral prefrontal cortex (VPFC) and dorsal PFC (DPFC), insula and their mesial temporal, striatal and posterior connection sites, as well as in the connections between these brain areas. The reviewed literature suggests that impairments in medial and lateral VPFC regions and their connections may be important in the excessive negative and blunted positive internal states that can stimulate suicidal ideation, and that impairments in a DPFC and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) system may be important in suicide attempt behaviors. A combination of VPFC and DPFC system disturbances may lead to very high risk circumstances in which suicidal ideation is converted to lethal actions via decreased top-down inhibition of behavior and/or maladaptive, inflexible decision-making and planning. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and insula may play important roles in switching between these VPFC and DPFC systems, which may contribute to the transition from suicide thoughts to behaviors. Future neuroimaging research of larger sample sizes, including global efforts, longitudinal designs, and careful consideration of developmental stages, and sex and gender, will facilitate more effectively targeted preventions and interventions to reduce loss of life to suicide.


2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia A. Yamokoski ◽  
Karen R. Scheel ◽  
James R. Rogers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukriti Drabu

This study investigated the role of culture on suicidal thoughts and behaviors by examining (i) differences in explicit reporting of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, (ii) differences in implicit association of suicidal thoughts (iii) correlation of implicit- explicit reporting of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (iv) correlation between religion, religiosity level and reporting of suicidal thoughts between community samples from India and the USA. The study also tested the feasibility of using a measure of cognitive processing (i.e. the Implicit Association Task) as opposed to a self-report measure to identify implicit or hidden associations with suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Given the scarcity of available research on cross-cultural suicidal thoughts and behaviors, this study aims to bridge the current gap and provide evidence on the cultural variability in expression and development of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The study hypothesized a lower level of explicit reporting of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the Indian sample (as compared to the USA sample), but equivalent or higher level of implicit association with death/suicide related stimuli. Further, a significant difference in the correlation between religiosity level and suicidal behaviors, moderated by religion, was expected between the two countries. Participants were recruited online using Mechanical Turk to target individuals from India and the USA. A self-report questionnaire format was used to capture information about the participants’ explicit reporting of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, associated risk factors, religious affiliations and country of birth. Implicit cognition towards suicide was measured using an online version of the Death/Suicide IAT. The results showed a significantly lower level of explicit reporting in India as compared to the USA sample but comparable implicit reporting levels. Further, the results also reported a significantly different correlation of religiosity and suicidal thoughts between the two country samples. This study provides initial evidence suggesting a significant role of cultural setting in the reporting and expression of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study is also the first to test the feasibility of using the Death/Suicide IAT for measuring implicit suicide related cognition in India.


Author(s):  
Tyler Pia ◽  
Igor Galynker ◽  
Allison Schuck ◽  
Courtney Sinclair ◽  
Gelan Ying ◽  
...  

Background: Perfectionism has been linked to suicide. According to the Narrative-Crisis Model of suicide, individuals with trait vulnerabilities are prone to develop a certain mindset, known as a Suicidal Narrative, which may precipitate the Suicide Crisis Syndrome (SCS), culminating in suicide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between perfectionism (trait vulnerability), fear of humiliation (component of the Suicidal Narrative), SCS, and prospective near-term suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB). Methods: Adult psychiatric outpatient participants (N = 336) were assessed at baseline with the Suicidal Narrative Inventory for perfectionism and fear of humiliation. The questions used to assess perfectionism were adapted from the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. The severity of the SCS was calculated using the Suicide Crisis Inventory. STB were assessed at baseline and after one month using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Serial mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS version 3.3 in SPSS. Results: While the direct effect of perfectionism on prospective STB was not significant (b = 0.01, p = 0.19), the indirect effect of perfectionism on STB, through serial mediation by fear of humiliation and the SCS, was significant (indirect effect p = 0.007, 95% CI [0.003, 0.013]). The indirect effect was not significant for models that did not include both mediators. Limitations: Variables were assessed at one time only. Conclusion: Perfectionism did not directly modulate STB. Perfectionism may be related to suicidal behavior through fear of humiliation, leading to the SCS. These results support the Narrative-Crisis Model of suicide and clarify the role of perfectionism in the etiology of suicide.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodie C. Stevenson ◽  
Kamila Irvine ◽  
Sarah Allen ◽  
Umair Akram

Abstract Evidence demonstrates increased vulnerability to thoughts and behaviors related to suicide (i.e., suicidal ideation) in students. This study examined the interaction between insomnia-symptoms and student-status (students vs. non-students) on reports of suicidal thoughts of behaviors. A total of 363 (N = 363) university students and 300 (N = 300) members of the general population provided complete data on measures of insomnia-symptoms and suicidal ideation. Students indicated greater reports of both total and lifetime ideation while also considering suicidal behavior within the past year. However, no differences were observed in reports of possible future attempt(s) and the disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors to another person. Moreover, students presenting concurrent symptoms of insomnia reported significantly elevated levels of suicidal ideation relative to nonstudents. These outcomes highlight the possible role of insomnia symptoms in accentuating suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the student population.


Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-178
Author(s):  
Brooke A. Ammerman ◽  
Martha K. Fahlgren ◽  
Kristen M. Sorgi ◽  
Michael S. McCloskey

Abstract. Background: Despite being a major public health concern, it is unclear how suicidal thoughts and behaviors differentially impact separate racial groups. Aims: The aim of the current study was to examine the occurrence of nonlethal suicide events, in addition to suicide attempt characteristics and factors contributing to suicide attempts. Method: A final sample of 7,094 undergraduates from a large northeastern university, identifying as members of three racial groups (White [67.30%], Black [17.30%], and Asian [15.40%]), completed online questionnaires. Results: White participants reported increased likelihood of endorsing lifetime suicidal ideation and plan, whereas Black participants reported decreased likelihood of these events; no differences were found in rates of lifetime suicide attempts. Black participants' suicidal behavior may involve greater ambivalence of intent. A higher proportion of Asian participants endorsed interpersonal factors as contributing to their suicide attempts, whereas a greater percentage of White participants reported internal contributing factors. Limitations: Findings are limited by the sample size and assessment of lifetime suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Conclusion: The findings present a more nuanced look at attitudes and actions related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors that may inform future research and risk assessment procedures.


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