title: Increased suicide attempts in young depressed patients with abnormal temporal-parietal-limbic gray matter volume.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicide is a major cause of death throughout the world. Approximately 60% of all suicides have a history of depression. Previous studies of structural brain imaging have shown that suicide is often associated with abnormal fronto-limbic networks. However, the mechanism underlying suicide in depression remains poorly understood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty sex- and age-matched suicidal unipolar patients were compared with 18 non-suicidal unipolar patients and 28 healthy controls. High-resolution T1-weighted 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were acquired. Hamilton Depressive Rating Scale (HAMD) and Self-Rating Depression scale (SDS) were evaluated. The criterion for suicidality was one or more documented lifetime suicide attempts. A whole-brain optimized voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach was applied. The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) was used to measure cognitive scheme in depressive patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, patients without suicide history showed significant decreased gray matter volume in the left insula lobe [-35 18 9], whereas patients with suicide history showed significantly decreased gray matter volume in the right middle temporal gyrus [60 -53 -8] and increased gray matter volume in the right parietal lobe [39 -39 60]. Compared with the non-suicidal depressed patient group, the suicidal group showed significant decreased gray matter volume in left limbic cingulated gyrus [-2 -21 28]. Moreover, the gray matter volume values in this significantly different brain region were negatively correlated with dysfunctional attitude scores in suicidal depressed patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study needs replication and further clarification in a larger patient population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suicide attempts in young depressed patients may be related to abnormal gray matter volumes in temporal-parietal-limbic networks. Specifically, small left limbic cingulate gyrus volumes may be a candidate for the prediction of suicide in young depressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Psychiatric Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: penghjgz@163.com.
authors.forename: Hongjun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: kaiwu.22@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Psychiatric Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Haochen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shengwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Minyue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Psychiatric Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yangbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Psychiatric Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Psychiatric Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ning
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D057566:Self Report; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Depression; Gray matter volume; Suicide attempt; Voxel based morphometry (VBM)