Citation

Hocaoğlu C. Front. Psychiatry 2023; 14: e1215902.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Frontiers Media)

DOI

10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1215902

PMID

37363164

PMCID

PMC10289149

Abstract

Suicide is a growing public health problem (1, 2). It can be seen in a wide range of people, from mentally healthy individuals who react to challenging living conditions to patients with severe mental disorders (3-5). Suicide has complex biological, social, and psychological risk factors and a multidimensional clinical presentation (6, 7). Recent studies have revealed the complexity underlying the neurobiological mechanisms of suicide (8-12). This Research Topic includes 10 studies examining the neurobiological causes of suicidal behavior. In the first article, Jiang et al. investigated the relationship between plasma inflammatory cytokine levels and changes in brain white matter (WM) integrity in patients with bipolar disorder who attempted suicide. Although no significant relationship was found between plasma inflammatory cytokines and WM integrity in the study, the increase in IL-6 levels was remarkable. The results of this study may provide a scientific basis for understanding abnormal immunological and neuroimaging changes in the possible mechanisms of suicidal behavior in patients with bipolar disorder (Jiang et al.). Secondly, Genis-Mendoza, Dionisio-García, et al. examined increased cortisol levels and number of suicide attempts and its relationship with depression. In this study, plasma cortisol levels were found to be high in individuals with depression and two or more suicide attempts. The authors stated that cortisol levels can be taken into account in people who attempt suicide and can be evaluated as a marker in the prevention of this global problem (Genis-Mendoza, Dionisio-García, et al.). In the third article, Kim et al. examined impaired oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) during a verbal fluency task in young adults with major depressive disorder and suicidal behavior. In this study, it is noteworthy that a significantly impaired prefrontal oxygenation was obtained, especially in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with suicidal tendencies. Impaired prefrontal oxygenation during cognitive execution may serve as a diagnostic biomarker for suicidality in young adult patients with MDD (Kim et al.). In a systematic review, Genis-Mendoza, Hernández-Díaz, et al. examined the relationship between TPH1 polymorphisms and the risk of suicidal behavior. The authors reported that the A218C polymorphism of the TPH1 gene may be a possible risk factor for suicide as a result of the study designed as an updated meta-analysis of 18.398 individuals (Genis-Mendoza, Hernández-Díaz, et al.). In the fifth article, Li X. et al. examined changes in whole-brain gray matter volumes (GMVs) before and after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in adolescents with MDD and suicidal ideation. The authors reported increased GMV in the right superior frontal gyrus and right superior temporal gyrus after ECT. They also reported that frontal-temporal-precuneus structure changes may be a potential cause of depressive and suicidal symptoms in adolescents (Li X. et al.). In the sixth study, Li J. et al. examined the associations between anxiety, depression, and risk of suicidal behavior in Chinese medical school students. The authors emphasized...

Language: en

Keywords

suicide; suicidal behavior; biomarker; neurobiology; suicidal brain