Citation

Segal NL. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2009; 39(6): 569-575.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology at California State University, Fullerton.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1521/suli.2009.39.6.569

PMID

20121320

Abstract

Genetically informative samples can address hereditary and experiential influences on suicide-related behaviors. The frequency of suicide-related behaviors was compared in twins from two survivor groups: (1) those whose co-twins' deaths were suicides (monozygotic [MZ]: n = 47; dizygotic [DZ]: n = 31), and (2) those whose co-twins' deaths were nonsuicides (MZ: n = 347; DZ: n = 170). The frequency of suicide attempts among suicide survivors was significantly higher in MZ than DZ twins, while the frequency of suicide attempts among nonsuicide twin survivors did not differ between MZ and DZ twins. Twin concordance for suicide attempts more likely reflects a genetic predisposition than a behavioral reaction to the loss.

Language: en