Study of Genes Related to Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior in Major Depression
Author Information
Author(s): Schosser Alexandra, Butler Amy W., Ising Marcus, Perroud Nader, Uher Rudolf, Ng Mandy Y., Cohen-Woods Sarah, Craddock Nick, Owen Michael J., Korszun Ania, Jones Lisa, Jones Ian, Gill Michael, Rice John P., Maier Wolfgang, Mors Ole, Rietschel Marcella, Lucae Susanne, Binder Elisabeth B., Preisig Martin, Perry Julia, Tozzi Federica, Muglia Pierandrea, Aitchison Katherine J., Breen Gerome, Craig Ian W., Farmer Anne E., Müller-Myhsok Bertram, McGuffin Peter, Lewis Cathryn M.
Primary Institution: MRC Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
Hypothesis
This study aims to identify genes contributing to suicidal behavior in individuals with major depression.
Conclusion
The study suggests that suicidal behavior in depression may involve multiple genes with small effects, but no genome-wide significant associations were found.
Supporting Evidence
- Two SNPs in KIAA1244 and RGS18 showed suggestive evidence of association with suicide attempts.
- GFRA1 was associated with the quantitative suicidality score.
- 12.3% of depression cases were classified as having made a serious suicide attempt.
Takeaway
Researchers looked for genes that might make people with depression more likely to think about or attempt suicide, but they didn't find strong evidence for any specific genes.
Methodology
A genome-wide association study was performed on 2023 depression cases to identify genetic associations with suicidal behavior.
Potential Biases
The study may be biased due to reliance on self-reported data and the specific focus on major depression.
Limitations
The study's findings may be false positives due to limited power to detect small effect sizes and the retrospective nature of the data collection.
Participant Demographics
The sample consisted of individuals with major depressive disorder, with a mean age of onset of 22.9 years and a majority being female (approximately 72.8%).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=2e-06
Confidence Interval
95% CI 27–60%
Statistical Significance
p<5e-6
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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