Citation

Desmyter S, Bijttebier S, Heeringen KV. CNS Neurol. Disord. Drug Targets 2013; 12(7): 921-929.

Affiliation

Unit for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, University, Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. stijn.bijttebier@ugent.be.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Bentham Science Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

24040805

Abstract

This paper provides a review of the literature on neuroimaging studies of suicidal behavior, and discusses the relevance of these studies for our understanding of suicidal behavior. Main findings from molecular imaging studies include a reduced prefrontal perfusion or metabolism and a blunted increase in activation when challenged in association with a history of suicide attempts. Moreover, impairment of the prefrontal serotonergic system in association with suicidal behavior is demonstrated in a number of studies. Recent structural and functional imaging studies show changes in cortical and subcortical areas and their connections. A number of methodological issues hamper the interpretation of findings. Nevertheless, when findings from studies using divergent techniques are taken together there is increasing evidence of the involvement of a fronto-cingulo-striatal network in suicidal behavior. This involvement is supported additionally by findings from neuropsychological studies, which demonstrate changes in decision-making processes in association with suicidal behavior that rely on the same network. Further study is needed to translate the increasing knowledge from neuroimaging studies in clinical tools for the prediction and prevention of suicidal behavior.

Language: en