title: Subcortical nuclei volumes in suicidal behavior: nucleus accumbens may modulate the lethality of acts.
abstract: Previously, studies have demonstrated cortical impairments in those who complete or attempt suicide. Subcortical nuclei have less often been implicated in the suicidal vulnerability. In the present study, we investigated, with a specific design in a large population, variations in the volume of subcortical structures in patients with mood disorders who have attempted suicide. We recruited 253 participants: 73 suicide attempters with a past history of both mood disorders and suicidal act, 89 patient controls with a past history of mood disorders but no history of suicidal act, and 91 healthy controls. We collected 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging data from the caudate, pallidum, putamen, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, amygdala, ventral diencephalon, and thalamus. Surface-based morphometry (Freesurfer) analysis was used to comprehensively evaluate gray matter volumes. In comparison to controls, suicide attempters showed no difference in subcortical volumes when controlled for intracranial volume. However, within attempters negative correlations between the left (r = -0.35, p = 0.002), and right (r = -0.41, p < 0.0005) nucleus accumbens volumes and the lethality of the last suicidal act were found. Our study found no differences in the volume of eight subcortical nuclei between suicide attempters and controls, suggesting a lack of association between these regions and suicidal behavior in general. However, individual variations in nucleus accumbens structure and functioning may modulate the lethality of suicidal acts during a suicidal crisis. The known role of nucleus accumbens in action selection toward goals determined by the prefrontal cortex, decision-making or mental pain processing are hypothesized to be potential explanations.
authors.affiliation: McGill Group for Suicide Studies, McGill University and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 boulevard Lasalle, Montréal, Québec, H4H 1R3, Canada.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gifuni
authors.affiliation: McGill Group for Suicide Studies, McGill University and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 boulevard Lasalle, Montréal, Québec, H4H 1R3, Canada.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Inserm, Université Montpellier I & CHU Montpellier, U1061, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olié
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Centre, School of Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Inserm, Université Montpellier I & CHU Montpellier, U1061, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cyprien
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Université Montpellier I & CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Bars
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Université Montpellier I & CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonafé
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Translational Affective Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry & Inserm, Université Montpellier I & CHU Montpellier, U1061, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courtet
authors.affiliation: McGill Group for Suicide Studies, McGill University and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 boulevard Lasalle, Montréal, Québec, H4H 1R3, Canada. Fabrice.Jollant@McGill.ca.
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jollant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Markers; Mood disorders; Neuroimaging; Subcortical structures; Suicidal behaviors; Surface-based morphometry (SBM)