GWAS meta-analysis of suicide attempt: Identification of 12 genome-wide significant loci and implication of genetic risks for specific health factors

Objective: Suicidal behavior is heritable and is a major cause of death worldwide. Two large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) recently discovered and cross-validated genome-wide significant (GWS) loci for suicide attempt (SA). The present study leveraged the genetic cohorts from both studies to conduct the largest GWAS meta-analysis of SA to date. Multi-ancestry and admixture-specific meta-analyses were […]

Exposure to alcohol outlets and risk of suicidal behavior in a Swedish cohort of young adults

Background: Greater alcohol accessibility, for example in the form of a high density of alcohol outlets or low alcohol taxation rates, may be associated with increased risk of suicidal behavior. However, most studies have been conducted at the aggregate level, and some have not accounted for potential confounders such as socioeconomic position or neighborhood quality. Methods: In […]

A review of the association between gene contributions and medical illness in patients with suicide behavior

Suicidal behavior is one of the most important public health issues in Taiwan. Suicide- related studies indicate that, apart from the coexisting risk factors, the probability of co-morbid physical and psychiatric disorders is  high. Moreover, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on suicidal behavior have been expected to contribute comprehensive information toward the possible prevention and treatment […]

Genome-wide association study meta-analysis of suicide death and suicidal behavior

Suicide is a worldwide health crisis. We aimed to identify genetic risk variants associated with suicide death and suicidal behavior. Meta-analysis for suicide death was performed using 3765 cases from Utah and matching 6572 controls of European ancestry. Meta-analysis for suicidal behavior using data across five cohorts (n = 8315 cases and 256,478 psychiatric or populational controls […]

The role of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in acquired capability for suicide

Objective According to the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide, capability for suicide comprises two dimensions: fearlessness about death and elevated pain tolerance. The short (S) allelic variant of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) has repeatedly been associated with more violent and lethal suicide methods and lethality of suicide attempts. The current study aimed […]

The role of epigenetics in depression and suicide: A platform for gene-environment interactions.

Epigenetics involves functional modifications of genes. The aim of this paper is to explore if an association exists between epigenetics and depression and/or suicide. MedLine/PubMed searches were performed using both Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) and Non-MeSH terms. Based on pre-specified terms and inclusion criteria, sixteen studies met inclusion criteria by the 3 independent reviewers. Epigenetic […]

Understanding epigenetic architecture of suicide neurobiology: A critical perspective.

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 […]

Genetic relationships between suicide attempts, suicidal ideation and major psychiatric disorders: A genome-wide association and polygenic scoring study.

Epidemiological studies have recognized a genetic diathesis for suicidal behavior, which is independent of other psychiatric disorders. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on suicide attempt (SA) and ideation have failed to identify specific genetic variants. Here, we conduct further GWAS and for the first time, use polygenic score analysis in cohorts of patients with mood disorders, […]

Influence of interactions between genes and childhood trauma on refractoriness in psychiatric disorders.

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Sex differences in glutamate receptor gene expression in major depression and suicide.

Accumulating data indicate that the glutamate system is disrupted in major depressive disorder (MDD), and recent clinical research suggests that ketamine, an antagonist of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor (GluR), has rapid antidepressant efficacy. Here we report findings from gene expression studies of a large cohort of postmortem subjects, including subjects with MDD and controls. […]

Different stress-related gene expression in depression and suicide.

Highlights In total 124 postmortem brain samples, derived from major depressive disorder who committed suicide and died of other cause. Different gene expression patterns are present between patients that suffered from depression with or without suicide. Changes are more pronounced in the anterior cingulate cortex than in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Suicide and depression are […]