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Wegiel J, Chadman K, London E, Wisniewski T, Wegiel J. Contribution of the serotonergic system to developmental brain abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2024; 17:1300-1321. [PMID: 38500252 PMCID: PMC11272444 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
This review highlights a key role of the serotonergic system in brain development and in distortions of normal brain development in early stages of fetal life resulting in cascades of abnormalities, including defects of neurogenesis, neuronal migration, neuronal growth, differentiation, and arborization, as well as defective neuronal circuit formation in the cortex, subcortical structures, brainstem, and cerebellum of autistic subjects. In autism, defects in regulation of neuronal growth are the most frequent and ubiquitous developmental changes associated with impaired neuron differentiation, smaller size, distorted shape, loss of spatial orientation, and distortion of cortex organization. Common developmental defects of the brain in autism include multiregional focal dysplastic changes contributing to local neuronal circuit distortion, epileptogenic activity, and epilepsy. There is a discrepancy between more than 500 reports demonstrating the contribution of the serotonergic system to autism's behavioral anomalies, highlighted by lack of studies of autistic subjects' brainstem raphe nuclei, the center of brain serotonergic innervation, and of the contribution of the serotonergic system to the diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Discovery of severe fetal brainstem auditory system neuronal deficits and other anomalies leading to a spectrum of hearing deficits contributing to a cascade of behavioral alterations, including deficits of social and verbal communication in individuals with autism, is another argument to intensify postmortem studies of the type and topography of, and the severity of developmental defects in raphe nuclei and their contribution to abnormal brain development and to the broad spectrum of functional deficits and comorbid conditions in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarek Wegiel
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
| | - Kathryn Chadman
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
| | - Eric London
- Department of Psychology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Pathology and Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jerzy Wegiel
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
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Cabrera-Mendoza B, Martínez-Magaña JJ, Monroy-Jaramillo N, Genis-Mendoza AD, Fresno C, Fries GR, Walss-Bass C, López Armenta M, García-Dolores F, Díaz-Otañez CE, Flores G, Vázquez-Roque RA, Nicolini H. Candidate pharmacological treatments for substance use disorder and suicide identified by gene co-expression network-based drug repositioning. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2021; 186:193-206. [PMID: 33403748 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Patients with substance use disorders (SUD) are at high risk to die by suicide. So far, the neurobiology of the suicide-SUD association has not been elucidated. This study aimed to identify potential pharmacological targets among hub genes from brain gene co-expression networks of individuals with SUD in a suicidal and non-suicidal context. Post-mortem samples from the prefrontal cortex of 79 individuals were analyzed. Individuals were classified into the following groups: suicides with SUD (n = 28), suicides without SUD (n = 23), nonsuicides with SUD (n = 9), nonsuicides without SUD (n = 19). Gene expression profiles were evaluated with the Illumina HumanHT-12 v4 array. Co-expression networks were constructed in WGCNA using the differentially expressed genes found in the comparisons: (a) suicides with and without SUD and (b) nonsuicides with and without SUD. Hub genes were selected for drug-gene interaction testing in the DGIdb database. Among drugs interacting with hub genes in suicides we found MAOA inhibitors and dextromethorphan. In the nonsuicide individuals, we found interactions with eglumegad and antipsychotics (olanzapine, clozapine, loxapine). Modafinil was found to interact with genes in both suicides and nonsuicides. These drugs represent possible candidate treatments for patients with SUD with and without suicidal behavior and their study in each context is encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Cabrera-Mendoza
- Genomics of Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), Mexico City, Mexico.,PECEM, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José Jaime Martínez-Magaña
- Genomics of Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), Mexico City, Mexico.,Multidisciplinary Academic Division of Comalcalco, Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Comalcalco, Tabasco, Mexico
| | - Nancy Monroy-Jaramillo
- Department of Genetics, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alma Delia Genis-Mendoza
- Genomics of Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Cristóbal Fresno
- Department of Technological Development, National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gabriel Rodrigo Fries
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Consuelo Walss-Bass
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | | | - Gonzalo Flores
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Institute of Physiology, Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Rubén Antonio Vázquez-Roque
- Neuropsychiatry Laboratory, Institute of Physiology, Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Humberto Nicolini
- Genomics of Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), Mexico City, Mexico
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Rizk MM, Herzog S, Dugad S, Stanley B. Suicide Risk and Addiction: The Impact of Alcohol and Opioid Use Disorders. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2021; 8:194-207. [PMID: 33747710 PMCID: PMC7955902 DOI: 10.1007/s40429-021-00361-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Suicide is a major public health concern and a leading cause of death in the US. Alcohol and opioid use disorders (AUD/OUD) significantly increase risk for suicidal ideation, attempts, and death, and are the two most frequently implicated substances in suicide risk. We provide a brief overview of shared risk factors and pathways in the pathogenesis of AUD/OUD and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. We also review clinical recommendations on inpatient care, pharmacotherapy, and psychotherapeutic interventions for people with AUD/OUD and co-occurring suicidal ideation and behavior. Recent Findings Among people with an underlying vulnerability to risk-taking and impulsive behaviors, chronic alcohol intoxication can increase maladaptive coping behaviors and hinder self-regulation, thereby increasing the risk of suicide. Additionally, chronic opioid use can result in neurobiological changes that lead to increases in negative affective states, jointly contributing to suicide risk and continued opioid use. Despite significantly elevated suicide risk in individuals with AUD/OUD, there is a dearth of research on pharmacological and psychosocial interventions for co-occurring AUD/OUD and suicidal ideation and behavior. Summary Further research is needed to understand the effects of alcohol and opioid use on suicide risk, as well as address notable gaps in the literature on psychosocial and pharmacological interventions to lower risk for suicide among individuals with AUD/OUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina M. Rizk
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr., Unit 42, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt, Egypt
| | - Sarah Herzog
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr., Unit 42, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Sanjana Dugad
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr., Unit 42, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Barbara Stanley
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr., Unit 42, New York, NY 10032 USA
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Steinberg LJ, Underwood MD, Bakalian MJ, Kassir SA, Mann JJ, Arango V. 5-HT1A receptor, 5-HT2A receptor and serotonin transporter binding in the human auditory cortex in depression. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2019; 44:294-302. [PMID: 31120232 PMCID: PMC6710086 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.180190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serotonergic system abnormalities are implicated in many psychiatric disorders, including major depression. The temporal lobe receives a high density of serotonergic afferent projections, and responses in the primary auditory cortex to sound are modulated by serotonergic tone. However, the associations between changes in serotonergic tone, disease state and changes in auditory cortical function remain to be clarified. METHODS We quantified serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor binding, serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor binding, and serotonin transporter (SERT) binding in Brodmann areas (BA) 41/42, 22, 9 and 4 from postmortem brain sections of 40 psychiatrically healthy controls and 39 individuals who had a history of a major depressive episode (MDE). RESULTS There was 33% lower 5-HT2A receptor binding in BA 41/42 in individuals who had an MDE than in controls (p = 0.0069). Neither 5-HT1A nor SERT binding in BA 41/42 differed between individuals who had an MDE and controls. We also found 14% higher 5-HT1A receptor binding (p = 0.045) and 21% lower SERT binding in BA 9 of individuals who had an MDE (p = 0.045). LIMITATIONS The study was limited by the small number of postmortem brain samples including BA 41/42 available for binding assays and the large overlap between suicide and depression in the MDE sample. CONCLUSION Depression may be associated with altered serotonergic function in the auditory cortex involving the 5-HT2A receptor and is part of a wider view of the pathophysiology of mood disorders extending beyond psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisa J. Steinberg
- From the Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Bakalian, Kassir, Mann, Arango); the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Mann, Arango); and the Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (Mann)
| | - Mark D. Underwood
- From the Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Bakalian, Kassir, Mann, Arango); the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Mann, Arango); and the Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (Mann)
| | - Mihran J. Bakalian
- From the Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Bakalian, Kassir, Mann, Arango); the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Mann, Arango); and the Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (Mann)
| | - Suham A. Kassir
- From the Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Bakalian, Kassir, Mann, Arango); the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Mann, Arango); and the Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (Mann)
| | - J. John Mann
- From the Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Bakalian, Kassir, Mann, Arango); the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Mann, Arango); and the Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (Mann)
| | - Victoria Arango
- From the Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Bakalian, Kassir, Mann, Arango); the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA (Steinberg, Underwood, Mann, Arango); and the Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA (Mann)
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Underwood MD, Kassir SA, Bakalian MJ, Galfalvy H, Dwork AJ, Mann JJ, Arango V. Serotonin receptors and suicide, major depression, alcohol use disorder and reported early life adversity. Transl Psychiatry 2018; 8:279. [PMID: 30552318 PMCID: PMC6294796 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0309-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Serotonin neurotransmitter deficits are reported in suicide, major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). To compare pathophysiology in these disorders, we mapped brain serotonin transporter (SERT), 5-HT1A, and 5-HT2A receptor binding throughout prefrontal cortex and in anterior cingulate cortex postmortem. Cases and controls died suddenly minimizing agonal effects and had a postmortem interval ≤24 h to avoid compromised brain integrity. Neuropathology and toxicology confirmed absence of neuropathology and psychotropic medications. For most subjects (167 of 232), a DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis was made by psychological autopsy. Autoradiography was performed in right hemisphere coronal sections at a pre-genual level. Linear model analyses included sex and age with group and Brodmann area as interaction terms. SERT binding was lower in suicides (p = 0.004) independent of sex (females < males, p < 0.0001), however, the lower SERT binding was dependent on MDD diagnosis (p = 0.014). Higher SERT binding was associated with diagnosis of alcoholism (p = 0.012). 5-HT1A binding was greater in suicides (p < 0.001), independent of MDD (p = 0.168). Alcoholism was associated with higher 5-HT1A binding (p < 0.001) but only in suicides (p < 0.001). 5-HT2A binding was greater in suicides (p < 0.001) only when including MDD (p = 0.117) and alcoholism (p = 0.148) in the model. Reported childhood adversity was associated with higher SERT and 5-HT1A binding (p = 0.004) in nonsuicides and higher 5-HT2A binding (p < 0.001). Low SERT and more 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A binding in the neocortex in depressed suicides is dependent on Axis I diagnosis and reported childhood adversity. Findings in alcoholism differed from those in depression and suicide indicating a distinct serotonin system pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Underwood
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Suham A Kassir
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mihran J Bakalian
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hanga Galfalvy
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew J Dwork
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Skopje, Macedonia
| | - J John Mann
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Victoria Arango
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
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Ghasemi M, Claunch J, Niu K. Pathologic role of nitrergic neurotransmission in mood disorders. Prog Neurobiol 2018; 173:54-87. [PMID: 29890213 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mood disorders are chronic, recurrent mental diseases that affect millions of individuals worldwide. Although over the past 40 years the biogenic amine models have provided meaningful links with the clinical phenomena of, and the pharmacological treatments currently employed in, mood disorders, there is still a need to examine the contribution of other systems to the neurobiology and treatment of mood disorders. This article reviews the current literature describing the potential role of nitric oxide (NO) signaling in the pathophysiology and thereby the treatment of mood disorders. The hypothesis has arisen from several observations including (i) altered NO levels in patients with mood disorders; (ii) antidepressant effects of NO signaling blockers in both clinical and pre-clinical studies; (iii) interaction between conventional antidepressants/mood stabilizers and NO signaling modulators in several biochemical and behavioral studies; (iv) biochemical and physiological evidence of interaction between monoaminergic (serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine) system and NO signaling; (v) interaction between neurotrophic factors and NO signaling in mood regulation and neuroprotection; and finally (vi) a crucial role for NO signaling in the inflammatory processes involved in pathophysiology of mood disorders. These accumulating lines of evidence have provided a new insight into novel approaches for the treatment of mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Ghasemi
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA.
| | - Joshua Claunch
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
| | - Kathy Niu
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
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Murphy B, Ibrahim JE, Bugeja L, Pilgrim J, Cicuttini F. The Use of Deceased Controls in Epidemiologic Research: A Systematic Review. Am J Epidemiol 2017; 186:367-384. [PMID: 28460057 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwx052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Scholarly debate on the use of deceased controls in epidemiologic research continues. This systematic review examined published epidemiologic research using deceased persons as a control group. A systematic search of 5 major biomedical literature databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and EMBASE) was conducted, using variations of the search terms "deceased" and "controls" to identify relevant peer-reviewed journal articles. Information was sought on study design, rationale for using deceased controls, application of theoretical principles of control selection, and discussion of the use of deceased controls. The review identified 134 studies using deceased controls published in English between 1978 and 2015. Common health outcomes under investigation included cancer (n = 31; 23.1%), nervous system diseases (n = 26; 19.4%), and injury and other external causes (n = 22; 16.4%). The majority of studies used deceased controls for comparison with deceased cases (n = 95; 70.9%). Investigators rarely presented their rationale for control selection (n = 25/134; 18.7%); however, common reasons included comparability of information on exposures, lack of appropriate controls from other sources, and counteracting bias associated with living controls. Comparable accuracy was the most frequently observed principle of control selection (n = 92; 68.7%). This review highlights the breadth of research using deceased controls and indicates their appropriateness in studies using deceased cases.
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Kulikov AV, Popova NK. Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 in seasonal affective disorder: underestimated perspectives? Rev Neurosci 2015; 26:679-90. [DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2015-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
AbstractSeasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by recurrent depression occurring generally in fall/winter. Numerous pieces of evidence indicate the association of SAD with decreased brain neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) system functioning. Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) is the key and rate-limiting enzyme in 5-HT synthesis in the brain. This paper concentrates on the relationship between TPH2 activity and mood disturbances, the association between human
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Oquendo MA, Sullivan GM, Sudol K, Baca-Garcia E, Stanley BH, Sublette ME, Mann JJ. Toward a biosignature for suicide. Am J Psychiatry 2014; 171:1259-77. [PMID: 25263730 PMCID: PMC4356635 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.14020194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Suicide, a major cause of death worldwide, has distinct biological underpinnings. The authors review and synthesize the research literature on biomarkers of suicide, with the aim of using the findings of these studies to develop a coherent model for the biological diathesis for suicide. METHOD The authors examined studies covering a large range of neurobiological systems implicated in suicide. They provide succinct descriptions of each system to provide a context for interpreting the meaning of findings in suicide. RESULTS Several lines of evidence implicate dysregulation in stress response systems, especially the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, as a diathesis for suicide. Additional findings related to neuroinflammatory indices, glutamatergic function, and neuronal plasticity at the cellular and circuitry level may reflect downstream effects of such dysregulation. Whether serotonergic abnormalities observed in individuals who have died by suicide are independent of stress response abnormalities is an unresolved question. CONCLUSIONS The most compelling biomarkers for suicide are linked to altered stress responses and their downstream effects, and to abnormalities in the serotonergic system. Studying these systems in parallel and in the same populations may elucidate the role of each and their interplay, possibly leading to identification of new treatment targets and biological predictors.
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10
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Brief maternal separation affects brain α1-adrenoceptors and apoptotic signaling in adult mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 48:161-9. [PMID: 24128685 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 09/21/2013] [Accepted: 10/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to adversity during early life is a risk factor for the development of different mood and psychiatric disorders, including depressive-like behaviors. Here, neonatal mice were temporarily but repeatedly (day 1 to day 13) separated from mothers and placed in a testing environment containing a layer of odorless clean bedding (CB). We assessed in adult animals the impact of this early experience on binding sites and mRNA expression of α1-adrenergic receptor subtypes, heat shock proteins (HSPs) and proapoptotic and antiapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family proteins in different brain regions involved in processing of olfactory information and rewarding stimuli. We found that repeated exposure to CB experience produced anhedonic-like behavior in terms of reduced saccharin intake and α1-adrenoceptor downregulation in piriform and somatosensory cortices, hippocampus, amygdala and discrete thalamic nuclei. We also found a selective decrease of α1B-adrenoceptor binding sites in the cingulate cortex and hippocampus and an increase of hippocampal α1A and α1B receptor, but not of α1D-adrenoceptor, mRNA levels. Moreover, while a significant decrease of antiapoptotic heat shock proteins Hsp72 and Hsp90 was identified in the prefrontal cortex, a parallel increase of antiapoptotic members of Bcl-2 family proteins was found at the hippocampal level. Together, these data provide evidence that the early exposure to CB experience produced enduring downregulation of α1-adrenoceptors in the prefrontal-limbic forebrain/limbic midbrain network, which plays a key role in the processing of olfactory information and reaction to rewarding stimuli. Finally, these data show that CB experience can "prime" the hippocampal circuitry and promote the expression of antiapoptotic factors that can confer potential neuroprotection to subsequent adversity.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Suicide is a major public health concern as each year 30000 people die by suicide in the USA alone. In the teenage population, it is the second leading cause of death. There have been extensive studies of psychosocial factors associated with suicide and suicidal behavior. However, very little is known about the neurobiology of suicide. Recent research has provided some understanding of the neurobiology of suicide, which is the topic of this review. METHODS Neurobiology of suicide has been studied using peripheral tissues such as platelets, lymphocytes, and cerebrospinal fluid obtained from suicidal patients or from the postmortem brains of suicide victims. RESULTS These studies have provided encouraging information with regard to the neurobiology of suicide. They show an abnormality of the serotonergic mechanism, such as increased serotonin receptor subtypes and decreased serotonin metabolites (e.g. 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid). These studies also suggest abnormalities of receptor-linked signaling mechanisms such as phosphoinositide and adenylyl cyclase. Other biological systems that appear to be dysregulated in suicide involve the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors. More recently, several studies have also indicated abnormalities of neuroimmune functions in suicide. CONCLUSIONS Some encouraging information emerged from the present review, primarily related to some of the neurobiological mechanisms mentioned above. It is hoped that neurobiological studies may eventually result in the identification of appropriate biomarkers for suicidal behavior as well as appropriate therapeutic targets for its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghanshyam N Pandey
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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Thompson PM, Cruz DA, Olukotun DY, Delgado PL. Serotonin receptor, SERT mRNA and correlations with symptoms in males with alcohol dependence and suicide. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2012; 126:165-74. [PMID: 22176604 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2011.01816.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study tested the hypothesis that abnormalities in components of the serotonin (5HT) system in the prefrontal cortex are associated with suicide in alcohol-dependent subjects. Second, we assessed the relationship of lifetime impulsivity and mood symptoms with prefrontal cortex 5-HT measures. METHOD Tissue was obtained from Brodmann's areas (BA) 9 and 24 in postmortem samples of individuals who were alcohol dependent with suicide (n = 5), alcohol dependent without suicide (n = 9) and normal controls (n = 5). Serotonin receptor (5HT) and serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) mRNA were measured. Interviews with next of kin estimated lifetime impulsivity and mood symptoms in the last week of life. RESULTS Serotonin receptor 1A (5HT1A) mRNA in BA 9 was elevated in the alcohol dependence without suicide group compared with controls. In the alcohol dependence with suicide group, anxiety symptoms were associated with decreased BA 24 SERT mRNA and depressive symptoms with BA 9 5HT1A mRNA expression. In the alcohol dependent only group impulsivity is correlated with increased BA 9, and BA 24 serotonin receptor 2A mRNA. CONCLUSION Our data suggest region-specific change, rather than global serotonin blunting is involved in alcohol dependence and suicide. It also suggests that symptoms are differentially influenced by prefrontal cortex serotonin receptor mRNA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Southwest Brain Bank, USA.
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Wang TY, Lee SY, Chen SL, Chang YH, Chen SH, Chu CH, Huang SY, Tzeng NS, Wang CL, Lee IH, Yeh TL, Yang YK, Lu RB. Interaction between serotonin transporter and serotonin receptor 1 B genes polymorphisms may be associated with antisocial alcoholism. Behav Brain Funct 2012; 8:18. [PMID: 22550993 PMCID: PMC3583294 DOI: 10.1186/1744-9081-8-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2011] [Accepted: 05/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several studies have hypothesized that genes regulating the components of the serotonin system, including serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and serotonin 1 B receptor (5-HT1B), may be associated with alcoholism, but their results are contradictory because of alcoholism’s heterogeneity. Therefore, we examined whether the 5-HTTLPR gene and 5-HT1B gene G861C polymorphism are susceptibility factors for a specific subtype of alcoholism, antisocial alcoholism in Han Chinese in Taiwan. Methods We recruited 273 Han Chinese male inmates with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) [antisocial alcoholism (AS-ALC) group (n = 120) and antisocial non-alcoholism (AS-N-ALC) group (n = 153)] and 191 healthy male controls from the community. Genotyping was done using PCR-RFLP. Results There were no significant differences in the genotypic frequency of the 5-HT1B G861C polymorphism between the 3 groups. Although AS-ALC group members more frequently carried the 5-HTTLPR S/S, S/LG, and LG/LG genotypes than controls, the difference became non-significant after controlling for the covarying effects of age. However, the 5-HTTLPR S/S, S/LG, and LG/LG genotypes may have interacted with the 5-HT1B G861C C/C polymorphism and increased the risk of becoming antisocial alcoholism. Conclusion Our study suggests that neither the 5-HTTLPR gene nor the 5-HT1B G861C polymorphism alone is a risk factor for antisocial alcoholism in Taiwan’s Han Chinese population, but that the interaction between both genes may increase susceptibility to antisocial alcoholism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Yun Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Underwood MD, Kassir SA, Bakalian MJ, Galfalvy H, Mann JJ, Arango V. Neuron density and serotonin receptor binding in prefrontal cortex in suicide. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2012; 15:435-47. [PMID: 21733245 PMCID: PMC4167642 DOI: 10.1017/s1461145711000691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although serotonin receptor and cytoarchitectonic alterations are reported in prefrontal cortex (PFC) in suicide and depression, no study has considered binding relative to neuron density. Therefore, we measured neuron density and serotonin transporter (SERT), 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A binding in matched suicides and controls. Suicides and normal controls (n=15 matched pairs) were psychiatrically characterized. Neuron density and binding were determined in dorsal [Brodmann area (BA) 9] and ventral (BA 47) PFC by stereology and quantitative autoradiography in near-adjacent sections. Binding index was defined as the ratio of receptor binding to neuron density. Suicides had lower neuron density in the gyrus of both areas. The binding index was lower for SERT in BA 47 but not in BA9; the 5-HT1A binding index was higher in BA 9 but not in BA 47, while the 5-HT2A binding index was not different between groups. SERT binding was lower in suicides in BA 47 but not BA 9, while 5-HT1A binding was higher in BA 9 but not BA 47. SERT binding negatively correlated with 5-HT1A binding in BA 47 in suicides. Neuron density decreased with age. The 5-HT1A binding index was higher in females than males. We found lower neuron density and lower SERT binding index in both PFC regions in suicides. More 5-HT1A binding with less SERT binding and the negative correlation in depressed suicides suggests post-synaptic receptor up-regulation, and it is independent of the difference in neuron density. Thus, abnormalities in both cortical neurons and in their serotonergic innervation are present in suicides and future studies will need to determine whether cortical changes reflect the trophic effect of altered serotonin innervation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Underwood
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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15
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Shibasaki M, Kurokawa K, Mizuno K, Ohkuma S. Effect of Aripiprazole on Anxiety Associated With Ethanol Physical Dependence and on Ethanol-Induced Place Preference. J Pharmacol Sci 2012; 118:215-24. [DOI: 10.1254/jphs.11201fp] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
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Gonda X, Fountoulakis KN, Harro J, Pompili M, Akiskal HS, Bagdy G, Rihmer Z. The possible contributory role of the S allele of 5-HTTLPR in the emergence of suicidality. J Psychopharmacol 2011; 25:857-66. [PMID: 20837566 DOI: 10.1177/0269881110376693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Suicide is a complex and challenging human phenomenon, and, although knowledge is expanding concerning its risk factors, its background is still not fully understood. There is currently an increasing interest in genetic factors associated with suicide, since these may lead to the emergence of personality traits and temperaments that may be long-term predictors of suicidal behaviour. One of the most likely genetic candidates in the background of suicide is the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene. This review focused on papers published on the association of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene and suicidal behaviour as well as research on possible endophenotypes related to suicide. Although there are contradictory results, several studies and meta-analyses support the idea that the S allele plays a role in the background of violent suicide. However, in order to be able to delineate the genetic background of suicide, different types of suicidal behaviour should be distinguished, since studies indicate that these may have different genetic factors. Also, personality traits and temperaments should be identified that may play a modulating role between genetic factors and suicidal behaviour. So far, neuroticism, affective temperaments, and impulsive aggression have been found to be associated with both the S allele and suicidal behaviour. This study aimed to integrate findings concerning possible endophenotypes modulating between genetic factors and manifested suicidal behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenia Gonda
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
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Hale MW, Shekhar A, Lowry CA. Development by environment interactions controlling tryptophan hydroxylase expression. J Chem Neuroanat 2011; 41:219-26. [PMID: 21640184 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2011.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2011] [Revised: 04/19/2011] [Accepted: 05/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Tryptophan hydroxylase is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT). Two isoforms of tryptophan hydroxylase, derived from different genes, tph1 and tph2, have been identified. The tph1 isoform is expressed in peripheral tissues, whereas tph2 is brain and neuron-specific. Recent studies suggest that tph2 expression and brain serotonin turnover are upregulated in depressed suicide patients, and drug-free depressed patients, respectively. Increased tph2 expression could result from genetic influences, early life developmental influences, adverse experience during adulthood, or interactions among these factors. Studies in rodents support the hypothesis that interactions between early life developmental influences and adverse experience during adulthood play an important role in determining tph2 expression. In this review, we highlight the evidence for the effects of adverse early life experience and stressful experience during adulthood on both tph1 and tph2 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Hale
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghanshyam N Pandey
- The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612
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Prabhakaran J, Majo VJ, Milak MS, Mali P, Savenkova L, Mann JJ, Parsey RV, Kumar JD. Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of [11C]MPTQ: A potential PET tracer for alpha2A-adrenergic receptors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2010; 20:3654-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2010.04.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2010] [Revised: 04/20/2010] [Accepted: 04/21/2010] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Pompili M, Serafini G, Innamorati M, Dominici G, Ferracuti S, Kotzalidis GD, Serra G, Girardi P, Janiri L, Tatarelli R, Sher L, Lester D. Suicidal behavior and alcohol abuse. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2010; 7:1392-431. [PMID: 20617037 PMCID: PMC2872355 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph7041392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2010] [Revised: 03/15/2010] [Accepted: 03/19/2010] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Suicide is an escalating public health problem, and alcohol use has consistently been implicated in the precipitation of suicidal behavior. Alcohol abuse may lead to suicidality through disinhibition, impulsiveness and impaired judgment, but it may also be used as a means to ease the distress associated with committing an act of suicide. We reviewed evidence of the relationship between alcohol use and suicide through a search of MedLine and PsychInfo electronic databases. Multiple genetically-related intermediate phenotypes might influence the relationship between alcohol and suicide. Psychiatric disorders, including psychosis, mood disorders and anxiety disorders, as well as susceptibility to stress, might increase the risk of suicidal behavior, but may also have reciprocal influences with alcohol drinking patterns. Increased suicide risk may be heralded by social withdrawal, breakdown of social bonds, and social marginalization, which are common outcomes of untreated alcohol abuse and dependence. People with alcohol dependence or depression should be screened for other psychiatric symptoms and for suicidality. Programs for suicide prevention must take into account drinking habits and should reinforce healthy behavioral patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy; E-Mails:
(G.S.);
(M.I.);
(G.D.);
(S.F.);
(G.D.K.);
(G.S.);
(P.G.);
(R.T.)
- McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
or
; Tel. +39-06 33775675; Fax +39-0633775342
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy; E-Mails:
(G.S.);
(M.I.);
(G.D.);
(S.F.);
(G.D.K.);
(G.S.);
(P.G.);
(R.T.)
| | - Marco Innamorati
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy; E-Mails:
(G.S.);
(M.I.);
(G.D.);
(S.F.);
(G.D.K.);
(G.S.);
(P.G.);
(R.T.)
| | - Giovanni Dominici
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy; E-Mails:
(G.S.);
(M.I.);
(G.D.);
(S.F.);
(G.D.K.);
(G.S.);
(P.G.);
(R.T.)
| | - Stefano Ferracuti
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy; E-Mails:
(G.S.);
(M.I.);
(G.D.);
(S.F.);
(G.D.K.);
(G.S.);
(P.G.);
(R.T.)
| | - Giorgio D. Kotzalidis
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy; E-Mails:
(G.S.);
(M.I.);
(G.D.);
(S.F.);
(G.D.K.);
(G.S.);
(P.G.);
(R.T.)
| | - Giulia Serra
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy; E-Mails:
(G.S.);
(M.I.);
(G.D.);
(S.F.);
(G.D.K.);
(G.S.);
(P.G.);
(R.T.)
| | - Paolo Girardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy; E-Mails:
(G.S.);
(M.I.);
(G.D.);
(S.F.);
(G.D.K.);
(G.S.);
(P.G.);
(R.T.)
| | - Luigi Janiri
- Department of Psychiatry, Catholic University Medical School, Largo F. Vito 1, Rome 00168, Italy; E-Mail:
| | - Roberto Tatarelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00189, Italy; E-Mails:
(G.S.);
(M.I.);
(G.D.);
(S.F.);
(G.D.K.);
(G.S.);
(P.G.);
(R.T.)
| | - Leo Sher
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; E-Mail:
| | - David Lester
- The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, NJ 08240-0195, USA; E-Mail:
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Hercher C, Turecki G, Mechawar N. Through the looking glass: examining neuroanatomical evidence for cellular alterations in major depression. J Psychiatr Res 2009; 43:947-61. [PMID: 19233384 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2009.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2008] [Revised: 01/10/2009] [Accepted: 01/16/2009] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in brain plasticity are increasingly thought to play important roles in major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicide. To gain a better understanding of the gross structural changes observed in the brains of major depressed and suicide subjects, a number of recent investigations have scrutinized the cellular integrity of brain regions implicated in mood disorders. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the microscopic features of neuronal and glial cell populations in these different brain regions, namely the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, raphe nucleus and locus coeruleus. In general, evidence from this burgeoning field supports the hypothesis of altered cell plasticity in MDD and suicide occurring mainly in key fronto-limbic areas. Interestingly, reported morphometric and cell density alterations are generally region-specific and implicate several neuromodulatory systems, notably GABAergic, serotonergic, noradrenergic and glutamatergic pathways. Cell-specific changes involve reductions in densities of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, while increases in microglial densities have also been reported. Furthermore, increases in neuronal densities have been found in subcortical regions. The implication of such findings for our understanding of the cellular and molecular underpinnings of MDD and suicide are discussed, and the strengths and weaknesses of morphological approaches used to analyse human postmortem brain tissues are evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christa Hercher
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Québec, Canada
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22
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Conner KR, McCloskey MS, Duberstein PR. Psychiatric Risk Factors for Suicide in the Alcohol-dependent Patient. Psychiatr Ann 2008. [DOI: 10.3928/00485713-20081101-04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Marek GJ. Regulation of rat cortical 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptor-mediated electrophysiological responses by repeated daily treatment with electroconvulsive shock or imipramine. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2008; 18:498-507. [PMID: 18294819 PMCID: PMC2453314 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2008.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2007] [Revised: 12/16/2007] [Accepted: 01/09/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Down-regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine(2A) (5-HT(2A)) receptors has been a consistent effect induced by most antidepressant drugs. In contrast, electroconvulsive shock (ECS) up-regulates the number of 5-HT(2A) receptor binding sites. However, the effects of antidepressants on 5-HT(2A) receptor-mediated responses on identified cells of the cerebral cortex have not been examined. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine and ECS on 5-HT(2A) receptor-mediated electrophysiological responses involving glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in the rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and piriform cortex, respectively. The electrophysiological effects of activating 5-HT(2A) receptors were consistent with 5-HT(2A) receptor binding regulation for imipramine and ECS except for the mPFC where chronic ECS decreased the potency of 5-HT at a 5-HT(2A) receptor-mediated response. These findings are consistent with the general hypothesis that chronic antidepressant treatments shift the balance of serotonergic neurotransmission towards inhibitory effects in the cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard J Marek
- Discovery Biology, Eli Lilly Corporate Center, Mail Drop 0510, Indianapolis, IN 46285, United States.
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Underwood MD, Mann JJ, Arango V. Morphometry of dorsal raphe nucleus serotonergic neurons in alcoholism. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2007; 31:837-45. [PMID: 17378916 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2007.00365.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduced serotonergic function is hypothesized in alcohol abuse and dependence. Serotonergic innervation of the cortex arises predominantly from the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). We sought to determine the number and morphometric characteristics of DRN serotonergic neurons postmortem in alcoholic individuals (n=9; age: 16-66 years; 8M:1F) compared with psychiatrically normal, nonalcoholic controls (n=6; age: 17-74 years; 4M:2F). METHODS Brainstems were collected at autopsy, fixed and cryoprotected. Alcohol dependence or abuse was determined by psychological autopsy (DSM-IV), the presence of liver fatty changes or cirrhosis and/or high blood alcohol level. Tissue was sectioned at 50 microm (-25 degrees C). A series of 1:10 sections was immunoreacted with antiserum to tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin. The total number of TPH-immunoreactive (IR) DRN neurons was determined by stereology. Neuron morphometry indices were determined using a video-based imaging system attached to a microscope. We identified TPH-IR neurons every 1,000 microm in each brainstem and measured neuron area, total cross sectional neuron area, and the total area and density of immunolabeled processes. RESULTS Dorsal raphe nucleus neuron number (controls: 80,386+/-10,238; alcoholic individuals: 85,884+/-12,478) was not different between groups but TPH-IR was greater in alcoholic individuals throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the DRN. The volume of the DRN was 66+/-9 mm3 in controls and 55+/-5 mm3 in alcoholic individuals (p>0.05). The average size of DRN neurons did not differ between groups (353+/-12 microm2 for controls vs 360+/-15 microm2 for alcoholic subjects). However, the area occupied by neuron processes (area of processes/DRN area) was 2.2-fold greater in alcoholic individuals compared with controls (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The increased area occupied by neuron processes in alcoholic individuals may represent sprouting and, together with greater TPH-IR, be a compensatory response to impaired serotonergic transmission or cumulative effects of alcohol on the serotonin system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Underwood
- Department of Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032, USA.
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Abstract
Suicidal behavior, which ranks among the top 10 causes of death worldwide, is an important public-health problem and a psychiatric disorder, which has been the subject of considerable study. Studies have shown association between the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene and suicidal behavior, although a proportion of alternative studies have produced contrary results both in terms of positive and negative findings, possibly reflecting inadequate statistical power and the use of different populations. Using the cumulative data from recent years in both European and, more particularly, Asian populations, this updated meta-analysis seeks to examine whether the aggregate data provide evidence of statistical significance, and to clarify the contradictory findings suggested by previous studies. It covers all published studies using multiple research methods up to January 2006. Compared with a previous meta-analysis, which found no association between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and suicidal behavior (P=0.38), the current results (39 studies) suggest a significant association with a P-value of 0.0068 (overall odds ratio=0.88 (0.8,0.97)), and supports the involvement of the brain 5-HTT in the pathogenesis of suicidal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Li
- Bio-X Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Abstract
Although abnormalities in serotonergic function have been the major focus of studies on suicidal behavior, several studies indicate that abnormalities of noradrenergic function may also be involved in the pathophysiology of suicide. In this paper, we have reviewed some of the noradrenergic studies in suicide, including studies of the biosynthetic enzyme for norepinephrine, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the receptors for norepinephrine, alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors, as well as the signaling cascades linked to beta-adrenergic receptors. In general, these studies indicate that the protein expression of TH, as well as alpha2- and beta2-adrenergic receptors, is increased in the postmortem brain of suicide victims. More studies are needed in order to examine extensively the role of noradrenergic function in suicidal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghanshyam N Pandey
- The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago 60612, USA.
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Ni X, Bismil R, Chan K, Sicard T, Bulgin N, McMain S, Kennedy JL. Serotonin 2A receptor gene is associated with personality traits, but not to disorder, in patients with borderline personality disorder. Neurosci Lett 2006; 408:214-9. [PMID: 17000047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2006] [Revised: 08/18/2006] [Accepted: 09/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a chronic, disabling, and high-risk mental disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in regulation of emotion, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and impulse control beginning in early adulthood. BPD affects about 1%-2% of the general population and has a high mortality rate as a result of suicide and impulsive behaviour. The serotonin 2A receptor gene (HTR2A) is considered a candidate gene for BPD because multiple lines of evidence suggest that it plays an important role in suicide, impulsivity and emotional liability. To test for an association between HTR2A and BPD, we genotyped four polymorphisms, rs6313 (T102C), rs4941573, rs2296972 and rs6314 (His452Tyr), in 111 Caucasian patients with BPD and 287 Caucasian healthy controls. The program UNPHASED was used to compare allele and haplotype frequencies between cases and controls. We did not find a significant association between HTR2A and BPD based on allele, genotype or haplotype analyses. However, there were significant associations between HTR2A and personality traits in the BPD patients. The C allele of rs6313 and the A allele of rs4941573 associated with a higher Extraversion score. Our results suggest that the serotonin 2A receptor gene may not play a major role in the aetiology of borderline personality disorder, but may have a role in personality traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingqun Ni
- Neurogenetics Section, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ont. M5T 1R8, Canada.
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Stone EA, Lehmann ML, Lin Y, Quartermain D. Depressive behavior in mice due to immune stimulation is accompanied by reduced neural activity in brain regions involved in positively motivated behavior. Biol Psychiatry 2006; 60:803-11. [PMID: 16814258 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2006] [Revised: 04/25/2006] [Accepted: 04/25/2006] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune stimulation inhibits positively motivated behavior and induces depressive illness. To help clarify the mechanism of these effects, neural activity in response to a positive stimulus was examined in brain regions associated with positively motivated activity defined on the basis of prior behavioral studies of central alpha1-adrenoceptor action. METHODS Mice pretreated with either lipopolysaccharide or, for comparison, reserpine were exposed to a motivating stimulus (fresh cage) and subsequently assayed for fos expression and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, two measures associated with alpha1-adrenoceptor-dependent neural activity, in several positive-activity-related (motor, piriform, cingulate cortex, nucleus accumbens, locus coeruleus) and stress-related brain regions (paraventricular hypothalamus, bed nucleus stria terminalis). RESULTS Both lipopolysaccharide and reserpine pretreatment abolished fresh cage-induced fos expression and MAPK activation in the positive activity-related brain regions but enhanced these measures in the stress-related areas. CONCLUSIONS The results support the hypothesis that immune activation reduces alpha1-adrenoceptor-related signaling and neural activity in brain regions associated with positive activity while it increases these functions in stress-associated areas. It is suggested that neural activities of these two types of brain regions are mutually antagonistic and that a reciprocal shift toward the stress regions is a factor in the loss of positively motivated behaviors in sickness behavior and depressive illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Stone
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA.
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Bonkale WL, Turecki G, Austin MC. Increased tryptophan hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the dorsal raphe nucleus of alcohol-dependent, depressed suicide subjects is restricted to the dorsal subnucleus. Synapse 2006; 60:81-5. [PMID: 16596624 PMCID: PMC2925396 DOI: 10.1002/syn.20278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Considerable evidence suggests that alcoholics with co-occurring depressive disorder are at greater risk for developing psychosocial problems particularly suicidal behavior. Moreover, dysfunction in serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission has been implicated in depression, suicide and alcoholism. In the present study, we measured the levels of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the main synthetic enzyme of 5-HT synthesis, in specific nuclei of the dorsal raphe (DR) in depressed suicide victims with alcohol dependence and matched psychiatrically normal controls. TPH immunoreactivity (IR) was quantified in frozen tissue sections containing the DR from 8 suicide victims with a diagnosis of major depression and alcohol dependence, and 8 psychiatrically normal control subjects by using immunoautoradiographic methods. We found that the levels of TPH-IR were significantly increased by 46% in the dorsal subnucleus of the DR in depressed suicide victims with alcohol dependence when compared with controls. In contrast, TPH-IR levels did not significantly differ in the other DR subnuclei between depressed, alcoholic suicide subjects, and controls. Our results indicate that abnormalities in 5-HT biosynthesis in the brain of depressed alcoholic suicide subjects are restricted within distinct regions of the DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willy L Bonkale
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Neuropsychiatry Research Program, Texas A&M University System HSC, Texas 76504, USA.
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Li D, Duan Y, He L. Association study of serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) gene with schizophrenia and suicidal behavior using systematic meta-analysis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2006; 340:1006-15. [PMID: 16405867 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.12.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2005] [Accepted: 12/18/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) gene was implicated to be associated with both schizophrenia and suicidal behavior due to its role of key neurotransmitter in many physiologic processes. Association studies were reported in different populations, however, a great number of subsequent studies have produced contrary results, possibly reflecting inadequate statistical power. With the cumulative data in recent years in both European and Asian populations, particularly in Asian populations, it was necessary to carry out a comprehensive analysis of previous findings. The meta-analysis, therefore, combined all English and Chinese studies using multiple research methods published up to July 2005 to give a new picture of the role of the 5-HT2A gene. Compared with significant results reported previously, the current large samples (73 studies in all) failed to find significant association of the T102C polymorphism with either schizophrenia or suicidal behavior. Evidence of significant association was only detected between A-1438G and suicidal behavior. The current study did not support the association of the 5-HT2A gene with either schizophrenia or suicidal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Li
- Bio-X Life Science Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
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Oquendo MA, Russo SA, Underwood MD, Kassir SA, Ellis SP, Mann JJ, Arango V. Higher postmortem prefrontal 5-HT2A receptor binding correlates with lifetime aggression in suicide. Biol Psychiatry 2006; 59:235-43. [PMID: 16140277 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2005] [Revised: 05/12/2005] [Accepted: 06/30/2005] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In vivo studies find altered serotonin function associated with aggressive and suicidal behaviors. Postmortem studies also reveal serotonergic alterations in suicide subjects but have not reported on the relationship between aggression and the serotonin system. We measured 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT(2A)) receptor binding in prefrontal cortex of suicide and nonsuicide subjects and explored the relationship between 5-HT(2A) receptor binding, lifetime aggression, and suicide. METHODS The 5-HT(2A) receptor binding in coronal sections of prefrontal cortex was quantified by autoradiography with [(3)H] ketanserin in 37 suicide subjects and 73 nonsuicide subjects. The relationship between [(3)H] ketanserin binding and lifetime aggression, rated on the Brown-Goodwin Aggression History Scale, was assessed controlling for age and sex. RESULTS In suicide subjects, lifetime aggression scores correlated positively with [(3)H] ketanserin binding in all prefrontal Brodmann areas examined, after adjusting for age and sex. This was not the case in nonsuicide subjects. We found no significant differences in aggression scores or [(3)H] ketanserin binding between the suicide subjects and nonsuicide subjects. CONCLUSIONS The relationship between aggression and 5-HT(2A) receptor binding in suicide subjects, but not in nonsuicide subjects, may reflect differences in the regulation of the 5-HT(2A) receptor related to suicidal behavior and perhaps other proaggressive changes in brains of suicide subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Oquendo
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
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Li D, He L. Further clarification of the contribution of the tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene to suicidal behavior using systematic allelic and genotypic meta-analyses. Hum Genet 2006; 119:233-40. [PMID: 16450114 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-005-0113-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2005] [Accepted: 11/27/2005] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Suicide is a major public health issue, especially in western countries, accounting for approximately 1 million deaths every year throughout the world. The tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene has been extensively studied as a candidate for suicidal behavior due to its role in serotonergic neurotransmission. Since the first study associating the gene with schizophrenia, there have been many attempts to replicate it. However, a number of these studies have produced contrary results, possibly reflecting inadequate statistical power and the use of different populations. Association data relating European and, more particularly, Asian populations has become increasingly available in recent years. To examine whether the aggregate data provide evidence of statistical significance, the current meta-analysis has combined all the published studies up to July 2005, and examined the polymorphisms (A779C, A218C, A-6526G) in the context of varied suicidal behaviors by analyzing the studies in total and in subsets. Compared with the inconsistent results of previous studies, the current results (22 references) confirm a strong overall association between suicidal behavior and the A779C/A218C polymorphisms, supporting the involvement of TPH in the pathogenesis of suicidal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Li
- Shanghai Jiaotong University, Bio-X Center, Hao Ran Building, 1954 Hua Shan Road, 200030, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Stone EA, Lin Y, Ahsan MR, Quartermain D. Alpha(1)-adrenergic and alpha(2)-adrenergic balance in the dorsal pons and gross behavioral activity of mice in a novel environment. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2005; 183:127-32. [PMID: 16193333 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-005-0171-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2005] [Accepted: 08/12/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Central alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-adrenoceptors in a number of different brain regions are known to have opposing actions on gross behavioral activity, with the former stimulating and the latter inhibiting activity. Therefore, blockade of alpha(1)-receptors may induce inactivity by leading to unopposed alpha(2) activity. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to test if central blockade of alpha(2)-receptor function restores behavioral activity in alpha(1)-receptor-blocked mice. METHODS Dose-response studies were undertaken on the effects of alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-agonists and antagonists microinjected into the dorsal pons on gross behavioral activity in a novel cage test. RESULTS The behavioral inactivity resulting from blockade of alpha(1)-receptors in the pons with the antagonist, terazosin, was reversed by either a low dose of an alpha(2)-antagonist, atipamezole, or a low dose of an alpha(2)-agonist, dexmedetomidine, but was exacerbated by a high dose of the alpha(2)-agonist. CONCLUSION The results support the hypothesis that blockade of alpha(1)-receptors in the dorsal pons of mice produces inactivity by causing unopposed activity of alpha(2)-receptors. This condition may be relevant to inactive states seen after stress or during depressive illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Stone
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Ave., New York, NY, 10016, USA
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Abstract
Adolescent suicide is a major public health problem. In this review, the authors discuss different aspects of the relation between alcohol abuse and suicidal behavior in adolescents, including epidemiology, role of family history, comorbidity, gender differences, neurobiology, treatment, and prevention. In the general population, about 2,000 adolescents in the United States die by suicide each year. Suicide continually ranks as the second or third leading cause of death of persons between the ages of 15 and 34 years old. The suicide rate in young people has more than doubled during the period from 1956 to 1993. This increasing suicide rate has been blamed on the increase of adolescent alcohol abuse. Availability of alcohol and guns at home may contribute to suicide risk in adolescents. Comorbid psychopathology, which is common among adolescent alcohol abusers, substantially increases risk for suicide completions and attempts. Depressed adolescents may use alcohol to self-medicate depressive symptoms. Alcohol abuse and suicidal behavior in adolescents and in adults has been found to have biochemical, genetic, and psychological correlates. Ideally, treatment of adolescents who receive a diagnosis of an alcohol use disorder and co-occurring suicidality should follow an integrated protocol that addresses both conditions. Future studies of psychological and neurobiological mechanisms of suicidality in adolescents with alcohol and/or substance abuse are merited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Sher
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Suite 2917, Box 42, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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