Lengvenyte A 1,2, Conejero I 3,4, Courtet P1,3, Olié E 1,3.
1 Department of Emergency Psychiatry & Acute Care, CHU Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
2 Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic, Vilnius, Lithuania.
3 Inserm, Unit 1061 "Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research", Montpellier, France.
4 Department of Psychiatry, CHU Nimes, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Eur J Neurosci. 2019 Dec 2.
Abstract
Suicidal
behaviour is a multifaceted phenomenon that concerns all human
populations. It has been suggested that a complex interaction between
the individual genetic profile and environmental factors throughout life
underlies the pathophysiology of suicidal
behaviour. Although epidemiological and genetic studies suggest the
existence of a genetic component, exposure to biological and
psychosocial adversities, especially during critical developmental
periods, also contributes to altering the biological responses to threat
and pleasure. This results in amplified maladaptive cognitive and
behavioural traits and states associated with suicidal behaviours. Alterations in the cognitive inhibition and decision-making capacity have been implicated in suicidal
behaviours. Structural and functional changes in key brain regions and
networks, such as prefrontal cortex, insula and default mode network,
may underlie this relationship. Furthermore, the shift from health to suicidal
behaviour incorporates complex and dynamic changes in the immune and
stress responses, monoaminergic system, gonadal system, and
neuroplasticity. In this review, we describe the major findings of
epidemiological, genetic, neuroanatomical, neuropsychological,
immunological and neuroendocrinological studies on suicide behaviours to provide a solid background for future research in this field. This broad overview of the biological bases of suicide should promote neuroscience research on suicidal
behaviours. This might lead to improved biological models and to the
identification of evidence-based biomarkers, treatment options, and
preventive strategies.
© 2019 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
KEYWORDS:
Suicide; inflammation; neurobiology; neuroimaging; suicidal behaviour
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31793103
