Genetics, Biology, and Suicide in the Family (IN: Assessment and Prediction of Suicide, edited by R W Maris et al)

This chapter reviews data suggesting there may be family/genetic factors in suicide. It briefly reviews family, twin, Amish, & adoption studies. In examining the issue of biological factors in suicide, it reviews cerebrospinal fluid studies in depressed patients & violent suicide attempters, as well as postmortem studies. The possible implications of these studies for the prediction of suicide are also discussed. (33 Refs.)