Neurobiology of suicide: do biomarkers exist?

Clinical risk factors have a low predictive value on suicide. This may explain the increasing interest in potential neurobiological correlates and specific heritable markers of suicide vulnerability. This review aims to present the current neurobiological findings that have been shown to be implicat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of legal medicine 2014, Vol.128 (1), p.73-82
Main Authors: Costanza, Alessandra, D’Orta, Isabella, Perroud, Nader, Burkhardt, Sandra, Malafosse, Alain, Mangin, Patrice, La Harpe, Romano
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavior
Biomarkers
Biomarkers - blood
Brain - physiopathology
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - blood
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - genetics
Epigenetics
Forensic Medicine
Genetic Association Studies
Genetic Markers - genetics
Humans
Medical Law
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Murders & murder attempts
Nerve Growth Factors - blood
Neurobiology
Neuropathology
Neurosciences
Neurotransmitter Agents - blood
Polyamines
Polyamines - blood
Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics
Predictive Value of Tests
Review Article
Risk Factors
Serotonin
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
Suicide - legislation & jurisprudence
Suicide - psychology
Suicides & suicide attempts
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Summary:Clinical risk factors have a low predictive value on suicide. This may explain the increasing interest in potential neurobiological correlates and specific heritable markers of suicide vulnerability. This review aims to present the current neurobiological findings that have been shown to be implicated in suicide completers and to discuss how postmortem studies may be useful in characterizing these individuals. Data on the role of the main neurobiological systems in suicidality, such as the neurotransmitter families, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, neurotrophic factors, and polyamines, are exposed at the different biochemical, genetic, and epigenetic levels. Some neuroanatomic and neuropathological aspects as well as their in vivo morphological and functional neuroimaging correlates are also described. Except for the serotoninergic system, particularly with respect to the polymorphism of the gene coding for the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, data did not converge to produce a univocal consensus. The possible limitations of currently published studies are discussed, as well as the scope for long-term prospective studies.
ISSN:0937-9827
1437-1596
DOI:10.1007/s00414-013-0835-6