PSYCHOBIOLOGIC PREDICTORS OF SUICIDE

  • 1 December 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 48, 39-43
Abstract
Suicide is a significant cause of mortality in patients suffering from major affective disorders, schizophrenia, and alcoholism. Generally, several clinical and psychosocial factors combine to result in suicide. These risk factors have high sensitivity but low specificity; only a small minority of patients who meet risk criteria actually complete suicide. Therefore, clinicians have had great difficulty in assessing suicide risk; more clinically useful risk indicators are crucially needed. Biologic markets such as low cerebrospinal fluid levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and related indices of serotonergic function appear to correlate with violent and impulsive suicidal behavior. These and other biologic changes may have predictive value in determining suicide risk, as well as contributing to the formulation of a more complete model to explain suicidal behavior that combines genetic, biologic, psychologic, and social factors.