Psychiatry journal, JAMA, reports that Suicidal tendencies may run in families. In the study of US military personnel, four genes identified as potential risk factors for suicidal thoughts and actions.
The findings of Duke University Medical Center advance our understanding of how inherited risk factors contribute to suicidal thoughts and risky behavior, but more research is need to determine if identifying these genetic markers may lead to target therapies.
“Despite the fact that these genes do not predestine anyone to problems, it is also essential to know that there may be heightened risks, particularly when combined with life events,” stated Nathan Kimbrel, PhD, associate professor at Duke’s Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.
In a genome-wide analysis carried out by Prof. Kimbrel and his colleagues, more than 630,000 records from US military veterans analyzed.
In this group, 70% have European ancestry, 19.1% have African ancestry, 8.1% have Hispanic heritage, and 1.3% have Asian heritage. Mostly male participants participated in the study.
Review of the medical records on suicidal tendencies
A review of the medical records of the group of veterans revealed 121,211 instances of suicide thoughts or actions. In this study, controls were participants with no known history of self-harming behavior.
Through genome-wide analyses of blood samples from patients with confirmed suicidal thoughts or behaviors, the research team discovered several genes. In addition to four genes linked to psychiatric disorders, four genes showed the strongest connections.
Veterans are more likely to commit suicide when they possess the estrogen receptor ESR1, which has linked to PTSD and depression.
It has discovered that ESR1 loss negatively impacts the brain tissue of men, and estrogen plays a role in sex disparities in depression.
DRD2, a dopamine receptor gene, has previously linked to schizophrenia, mood disorders, ADHD, and problem drinking.
Lastly, DCC, which is express in brain tissue, has link to many psychiatric disorders. Those who have committed suicide have higher levels in their brains, according to researchers.
In addition to being link to suicide, TRAF3 has also link to antisocial behavior, substance abuse, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Does treatment exist?
In addition to lowering the risk of suicide, lithium, a “gold standard” medication for bipolar disorder, regulates TRAF3 expression and other inflammatory genes, according to Prof. Kimbrel.
Additionally, nine other ancestry-specific risk genes discovered by the team.
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