Clinical and Genetic Evaluation of Suicide Death with and without Interpersonal Trauma Exposure

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States with risk strongly influenced by Interpersonal trauma, contributing to treatment resistance and clinical complexity.

To assess clinical and genetic factors in individuals who died from suicide, with and without interpersonal trauma exposure.

Individuals who died from suicide with and without trauma were compared in a retrospective case-case design. Prevalence of 19 broad clinical categories was assessed between groups. Results directed selection of 42 clinical subcategories, and 40 polygenic scores (PGS) for further assessment. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for critical covariates and multiple tests, were formulated. Models were also stratified by age group (<26yo and ≥26yo), sex, and age/sex.

A population-based evaluation of comorbidity and polygenic scoring in two suicide death subgroups.

A total of 8 738 Utah Suicide Mortality Research Study individuals (23.9% female, average age = 42.6 yo) who died from suicide were evaluated, divided into trauma (N = 1 091) and non-trauma exposed (N = 7 647) individuals. A subset of unrelated European genotyped individuals was also assessed in PGS analyses (Trauma N = 491; Non-trauma N = 3 233).

"Trauma" is here defined as interpersonal trauma exposure, including abuse, assault, and neglect from International Classification of Disease coding.

Prevalence of comorbid clinical sub/categories and PGS enrichment in trauma versus non-trauma exposed suicide deaths.

Overall, trauma-exposed individuals died from suicide earlier (mean age of 38.1 yo versus 43.3 yo; P <0.0001) and were disproportionately female (38% versus 21%, OR = 3.3, CI = 2.9-3.8). Prevalence of asphyxiation and overdose methods, prior suicidality, psychiatric diagnoses, and substance use (OR range = 1.3-3.7) were elevated in trauma exposed individuals who died from suicide. Genetic PGS were also elevated in trauma-exposed individuals who died from suicide for depression, bipolar disorder, cannabis use, PTSD, insomnia, and schizophrenia (OR range = 1.1-1.4) with ADHD and opioid use showing uniquely elevated PGS in trauma exposed males (OR range = 1.2-1.4).

Results demonstrated multiple convergent lines of age- and sex-specific evidence differentiating trauma-exposed from non-trauma exposed suicide death. Such findings suggest unique biological backgrounds and may refine identification and treatment of this high-risk group.