Suicide attempters: biological stressmarkers and adverse life events

Abstract

j Abstract Risk factors for suicidal behaviour include adverse life events as well as biochemical parameters acting, e.g. within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and/or monoaminergic systems. The aim of the present investigation was to study stressful life events and biological stress markers among former psychiatric inpatients, who were followed up 12 years after an index suicide attempt. At the time of the index suicide attempt, and before treatment, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were taken, and 24 h (h) urine (U) was collected. 3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycole (MHPG) in CSF and 24 h urinary samples of cortisol and noradrenaline/adrenaline (NA/A) were analysed. Data concerning stressful life events were collected retrospectively from all participants in the study through semi-structured interviews at follow-up. We found that patients who reported sexual abuse during childhood and adolescence had significantly higher levels of CSF-MHPG and U-NA/A, than those who had not. Low 24 h U-cortisol was associated with feelings of neglect during childhood and adolescence. In conclusion, this study has shown significant and discrepant biological stress-system findings in relation to some adverse life events. j Key words suicide attempt AE catecholaminergic markers AE U-cortisol AE adverse life events

Association of recent gay‐related stressful events and emotional distress with suicidal behaviors over 12 months in Chinese men who have sex with men

“…These specific GRSEs (from nonfamily members) appear to cause MSM to think about, plan, or attempt suicide. Suicide may appear to be a solution to the difficulties and stress from these events, or stress may aggravate underlying psychiatric conditions and thereby promote suicidal behaviors (Sivasubramanian et al, ; Meyer, ; Hatzenbuehler, ; Sunnqvist, Westrin, & Traskman‐Bendz, ). To our best knowledge, the present study is the first report to an association between different specific types of GRSEs and suicidal behaviors in Chinese MSM.…”

Enhanced novelty-induced corticosterone spike and upregulated serotonin 5-HT1A and cannabinoid CB1 receptors in adolescent BTBR mice

“…higher cortisol peaks) following social or novel stimui than their ‘normotypic’ peers, paralleling individuals severely stressed in youth, even without a prior history of severe stress exposure (Lopez-Duran et al, 2009; Corbett et al, 2010; Spratt et al, 2012; Schupp et al, 2013). This low HPA axis resilience can have profound long-term impacts on social behavior, and may also increase the risk of suicide (Sher, 2006; Sunnqvist et al, 2008; Garlow et al, 2008). …”

Hypothalamic pituitary thyroid axis and exposure to interpersonal violence in childhood among women with borderline personality disorder

“…In particular, the cluster of features comprising impulsivity, mood reactivity, self-injury, suicidality, and dissociation has been proposed to illustrate the susceptibility of BPD patients to maladaptive stress responses (Zimmerman & Choi-Kain, 2009). Adult personality psychopathology (Brodsky, Malone, Ellis, Dulit, & Mann, 1997) and suicide attempts as well as completed suicides are associated with childhood trauma in the form of severe neglect (Glaser, 2000) and sexual or physical abuse (Dinwiddie et al, 2000; Jokinen et al, 2010; Sunnqvist, Westrin, & Träskman-Bendz, 2008; Ystgaard, Hestetun, Loeb & Mehlum, 2004), probably mediated through dysregulated neurobiological stress systems (De Bellis, Spratt, & Hooper, 2011), aggressive traits (Sarchiapone et al, 2009), and family dynamics (Brodsky et al, 2008). It has been suggested that childhood maltreatment may mold the phenotypic characteristics of psychopathology, yielding a variety of ecophenotypes (Teicher & Samson, 2013).…”