%0 Journal Article %T The neurobiology of suicide %J Lancet psychiatry %D 2014 %A van Heeringen, Cornelis Kees %A Mann, J. John %V 1 %N 1 %P 63-72 %X The stress-diathesis model posits that suicide is the result of an interaction between state-dependent (environmental) stressors and a trait-like diathesis or susceptibility to suicidal behaviour, independent of psychiatric disorders.

FINDINGS from post-mortem studies of the brain and from genomic and in-vivo neuroimaging studies indicate a biological basis for this diathesis, indicating the importance of neurobiological screening and interventions, in addition to cognitive and mood interventions, in the prevention of suicide. Early-life adversity and epigenetic mechanisms might explain some of the link between suicide risk and brain circuitry and neurochemistry abnormalities.

RESULTS from a range of studies using diverse designs and post-mortem and in-vivo techniques show impairments of the serotonin neurotransmitter system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis stress-response system in the diathesis for suicidal behaviour. These impairments manifest as impaired cognitive control of mood, pessimism, reactive aggressive traits, impaired problem solving, over-reactivity to negative social signs, excessive emotional pain, and suicidal ideation, leading to suicidal behaviour. Biomarkers related to the diathesis might help to inform risk-assessment procedures and treatment choice in the prevention of suicide.

Language: en

%G en %I Elsevier Publishing %@ 2215-0374 %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70220-2