Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026
08:42
Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
11.3K
The Vulnerability to Suicidal Behavior is Associated with Reduced Connectivity Strength
Stijn Bijttebier1, Karen Caeyenberghs2, Hans van den Ameele3
1Unit for Suicide Research, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Ghent University Ghent, Belgium.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|December 10, 2015
Summary
Structural brain network differences in suicide attempters (SA) may predict future risk. Euthymic SA showed decreased connectivity, linked to clinical symptoms, offering insights into suicidal behavior prediction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
Background:
- Suicidal behavior is a significant public health issue.
- The stress-diathesis model suggests biological factors (diathesis) interact with stressors to predict risk.
- Structural brain network alterations are increasingly implicated in the diathesis for suicidal behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify structural network changes associated with a diathesis in euthymic suicide attempters (SA) using a whole-brain approach.
- To investigate the relationship between these connectivity measures and clinical/genetic factors.
- To explore the potential of these network differences in predicting suicidal behavior.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of structural brain connectivity in 13 euthymic SA, 15 euthymic non-attempters, and 17 healthy controls (HC).
- Diffusion MRI and anatomical scans were used for whole-brain tractography and network analysis (NBS).
- Assessment of clinical characteristics and serotonin-related genetic polymorphisms.
Main Results:
- SA exhibited decreased connectivity strength between the left olfactory cortex and left anterior cingulate gyrus.
- SA reported increased suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and depression, but showed no genetic differences compared to controls.
- Reduced connectivity between the right calcarine fissure and left middle occipital gyrus correlated with higher trait anxiety and hopelessness.
Conclusions:
- Suicide attempters demonstrate distinct white matter network connectivity patterns.
- These connectivity differences are associated with specific clinical characteristics, including anxiety and hopelessness.
- Structural network alterations may serve as important biomarkers for predicting suicidal behavior risk.
Keywords:
5-HTTLPRMAOAconnectivity strengthnetwork based analysispredispositionsuicidal behaviorwhole brain tractographyMore Related Videos
10:43Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
Published on: July 1, 2014
15.9K
06:55An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents
Published on: December 2, 2015
23.6K
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
846
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
846
01:27Depressive Disorders: Etiology
856
Depressive disorders result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, each contributing uniquely to the development and persistence of the condition. Understanding these factors provides critical insight into the multifaceted nature of depression.
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
856
01:28Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles
759
Attachment theory, developed initially to explain infant–caregiver bonds, has been extended to illuminate patterns of intimacy in adult romantic relationships. Psychologists Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver proposed that the attachment styles observed in infancy form a framework for how individuals approach emotional closeness and conflict in adulthood. These attachment styles—secure, avoidant, and anxious—are linked to enduring patterns of behavior and emotional regulation in...
759
01:24Attachment Styles
698
Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
698
01:30Stress and Mental Health
1.1K
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
1.1K
01:05Long-term Depression
33.7K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
33.7K