Citation

Jollant F, Guillaume S, Jaussent I, Buresi C, Castelnau D, Malafosse A, Courtet P. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 74-75.

Affiliation

CHU Montpellier and INSERM E361, 371 avenue du Doyen Giraud, 34295 Montpellier, France. f-jollant@chu-montpellier.fr.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963980

Abstract

Objectives: The vulnerability to suicidal behavior (SB) is underlined by different interactive factors including cognitive functions, genes and early life events. We present here the results of three studies on decision-making in suicide attempters. We particularly aimed to link multiple levels of the suicidal diathesis. Methods: The Iowa Gambling Task was used as a measure of decision-making. Patients were genotyped for three serotonin-related genetic polymorphisms. Childhood abuse was assessed by means of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. A semi-structured interview enabled the assessment of the last 12-months stressful events. Results: (1) We found decision-making to be significantly more disadvantageous in non currently depressed suicide attempters in comparison to non depressed patients with no history of SB and to healthy subjects. (2) 5HTTLPR-ss and TPH1-AA were associated with better performance during the first part of the gambling task i.e. the guessing part. However, only 5HTTLPR-ll, TPH1-CC and MAOA-HH (in women) were associated with significant improvement during the task i.e. better learning abilities. (3) Decision-making performance was significantly and negatively correlated with childhood sexual abuse and adult interpersonal difficulties and mediated the association between these two variables. Conclusion: Decision-making alteration may represent an important element of the vulnerability to SB and an interesting target for the prevention of suicidal acts.

Language: en