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Admixture analysis of age at first suicide attempt
Frédéric Slama1, Philippe Courtet, Jean Louis Golmard
1INSERM, U955, IMRB, Department of Genetics, Psychiatry Genetics Team, Créteil, France. slama.frederic@wanadoo.fr
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|February 24, 2009
Summary
This study identified two distinct age groups for first suicide attempts (SA), with early-onset linked to trauma and substance misuse, and late-onset associated with major depression. These findings suggest age at first SA may indicate different vulnerability factors.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Age at first suicide attempt (SA) is theorized to differentiate suicidal behavior subtypes.
- Existing age thresholds for SA subgroups lack validation.
- Admixture analysis offers a statistical approach to identify latent subgroups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define distinct subgroups of suicidal behaviors based on age at first SA using admixture analysis.
- To validate age at first SA as a potential marker for different suicidal behavior subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized admixture analysis on a cohort of 368 patients with a history of SA.
- Determined the best-fitting statistical model for the distribution of age at first SA.
Main Results:
- A model of two Gaussian distributions best fit the data, with mean ages at first SA of 19.5 ± 4.3 years (early onset) and 38.5 ± 12.4 years (late onset), separated by a 26-year cut-off.
- The early-onset subgroup showed higher rates of anxiety disorders, cannabis misuse, and childhood trauma (emotional/sexual abuse).
- The late-onset subgroup was more frequently associated with major depressive disorders.
Conclusions:
- The study's mathematical modeling supports two distinct age-at-onset subgroups for suicidal behaviors, each with unique clinical profiles and childhood trauma histories.
- Age at first SA emerges as a potential 'candidate symptom' for future research into vulnerability factors for suicidal behavior.
- Recognizing these subgroups may improve understanding and treatment of the heterogeneous nature of suicidal behavior.
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