Suicide, serotonin, and the brain

The involvement of impaired serotonergic functioning in the development of suicidal behavior is one of the best documented findings in biological psychiatry. It is, however, less clear in which way this dysfunction contributes to the occurrence of suicidal behavior. Correlational studies have demonstrated associations between peripheral measures of serotonergic function and characteristics such as impulsivity, disinhibition, anxiety, and/or behavioral inhibition. Postmortem and neuroimaging studies have provided insight in the localization of serotonergic dysfunction in the central nervous system. Nevertheless, results in this area of research have also been contradictory. Following a short overview of recent research findings on serotonin and suicidal behavior, this paper focuses on the involvement of the prefrontal cortex of the brain in the development of suicidal behavior and on the role of serotonin in its executive functions. Based on these considerations, suggestions for future research are discussed.