Decreased regional gray matter volume in suicide attempters compared to suicide non-attempters with major depressive disorders.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated regional gray matter (GM) volume differences between suicide attempters and suicide non-attempters with major depressive disorder (MDD) and their relationship with psychological risk factors for suicidality.


METHODS
MDD patients with and without a suicide attempt history (n=19 in each group) participated. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression (severity subscale), Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI), Risk-Rescue Rating (RRR), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Barrett Impulsivity Scale, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL) were administered. T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired to evaluate changes in GM volume. Voxel-based morphometry was performed using the SPM 8 software package. Two-sample t-tests were used during second-level group comparison analysis; partial correlation analysis controlling for gender and age identified associations between regional GM volume and psychological measures.


RESULTS
Suicide attempters exhibited significantly decreased GM volume in the left angular gyrus (p<0.001, uncorrected) and right cerebellum (p<0.001, uncorrected). GM volume in the left angular gyrus was inversely correlated with BHS scores (r=-0.55, p<0.01) and positively correlated with the Seeking Social Support subscale of the WCCL (r=0.43, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide evidence of a neural basis of suicidal behaviors in MDD. In particular, reduced GM volume in the left angular gyrus may be a neurobiological marker of suicidality in depressed patients.
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Yu Jin
YJ
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Soohyun
S
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Ah Reum
AR
Gwak
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Seog Ju
SJ
Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Gachon University School of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Seung-Gul
SG
Kang
Department of Psychiatry, Gachon University School of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Kyoung-Sae
KS
Na
Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ydson@gachon.ac.kr.
Young-Don
YD
Son
Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jh.psyclaire@gmail.com.
Juhyun
J
Park
D000328:Adult; D002531:Cerebellum; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*