Citation

Allen KJD, Bozzay ML, Edenbaum ER. Curr. Behav. Neurosci. Rep. 2019; 6(4): 151-165.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s40473-019-00189-y

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

PURPOSE of Review: Neurocognitive deficits (impaired mental abilities corresponding to brain dysfunction) are transdiagnostic features of psychiatric illness, which account for the vast majority of suicide deaths. Here, we provide a selective empirical overview of neurocognitive factors and associated pathophysiology implicated in adult suicide. The present report draws primarily from the neuropsychology literature to complement and update prior reviews and meta-analyses. Recent Findings: Suicidality is linked to impairment across neurocognitive domains, particularly inhibition and decision-making components of executive functioning (EF). Summary: Extant research has primarily examined "cool" EF in suicide, yet there is strong preliminary evidence for the importance of "hot" EF involved in affect regulation and value-based decision-making. Our review accordingly integrates what is known about neurocognition and suicidality under a conceptual framework informed by this literature and prior theory. We specifically propose that hot EF deficits represent a common pathway to suicide from various distal risk factors. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Language: en

Keywords

Emotion; Suicidal ideation; Suicidality; Neuropsychology; Cognitive control; Executive functioning