In 2011, 41,146 Americans died by suicide, surpassing the alarming 2010 toll of 38,364. Suicidal behavior (SB) (deaths/attempts) is linked to neurobiological, neurocognitive and behavioral factors, but integrative, multimodal studies are rare. Often, prospective studies, crucial to understanding future risk, have focused on single predictors and a single outcome, implying that SB is homogeneous. Yet, SB is complex and heterogeneous: it can be impulsive or methodically planned; violent or not, reactive to life events or occur despite no obvious stressors suggesting different subtypes. As a first step towards disentangling these subtypes, our model, supported by our pilot data, posits 2 putative phenotypes of SB associated with different patterns of suicidal ideation (SI). We have identified a variable pattern of suicidal ideation typically occurring in individuals with a trauma history wh react to environmental stressors with aggression, pronounced cortisol response and variable SI, in part due to difficulty engaging prefrontal regions in affect regulation. In contrast, we posit tat when SI is elevated but with little fluctuation, it is linked to blunted serotonergic function, and greater cognitive control leading to more planned and lethal SB. The Conte Center (CC) P50-MH090964, conducts cross-sectional studies of SB in Major Depression. We seek to follow this cohort and a newly enrolled sample of depressed patients for 2 years, the highest risk period. Baseline CC assessments mean significant cost savings and maximize use of a rich dataset including: Point-Subtraction Aggression Paradigm for RA, PET imaging with our new agonist, [11C]CUMI-101 to quantify 5-HT1A BPF, and a cognitive emotion regulation task in the MRI scanner. We will administer Stroop and Continuous Performance Tasks to assess cognitive control and prospectively quantify SI and SB, life events and depression using clinical and Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA). Key innovations are: (1) prospective, multi-modal design to (2) delineate 2 distinct SB subtypes, which may yield more robust predictors; (3) assessment of emotion regulation which may predict SI and SB; (4) use of EMA to delineate origins of SI in real time; (5) Laboratory assessments to characterize trajectories of suicidal subgroups. Impact: In large general population samples, most suicide attempters report SI (NESARC [94.2%]; NLAES [86.8%]), yet >50% of suicides had no prior SB. Thus, prior SB is limited as a predictor of future SB, especially suicide death, so better understanding of SI is crucial to improving prediction and understanding of SB. Critically, if variable SI is a harbinger f impulsive suicide attempts, then delineation of distinct biological and clinical features associate with it or not, may help delineate different risk patterns. Ultimately, it may aid in prospectively identifying those at risk for different expressions/phenotypes of SB. Moreover, future studies could examine the merits of pharmacologic or psychological interventions targeting affect regulation for variable SI, versus antidepressants or cognitive treatments for sustained SI.

Public Health Relevance

In 2011, 13 individuals per 100,000 died by suicide in the US, the highest rate in over 25 years. This project will prospectively measure neurobiological, cognitive, and clinical risk factors and test a model showing 2 distinct subtypes of Suicidal Behavior (SB) through suicidal ideation that is either variable and reactive to stressors or sustained over time. Pharmacologic or psychological interventions targeting emotion regulation may be best for variable SI, while cognitive interventions may be better for sustained SI.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01MH109326-01
Application #
9055409
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Rumsey, Judith M
Project Start
2016-05-15
Project End
2021-02-28
Budget Start
2016-05-15
Budget End
2017-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
Rizk, Mina M; Galfalvy, Hanga; Singh, Tanya et al. (2018) Toward subtyping of suicidality: Brief suicidal ideation is associated with greater stress response. J Affect Disord 230:87-92
Ganança, Licinia; Galfalvy, Hanga C; Oquendo, Maria A et al. (2017) Lipid correlates of antidepressant response to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation: A pilot study. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 119:38-44
Bernanke, J A; Stanley, B H; Oquendo, M A (2017) Toward fine-grained phenotyping of suicidal behavior: the role of suicidal subtypes. Mol Psychiatry 22:1080-1081
Bernanke, Joel; Galfalvy, Hanga C; Mortali, Maggie G et al. (2017) Suicidal ideation and behavior in institutions of higher learning: A latent class analysis. J Psychiatr Res 95:253-259