title: Positron Emission Tomographic Imaging of the Serotonergic System and Prediction of Risk and Lethality of Future Suicidal Behavior.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biomarkers that predict suicidal behavior, especially highly lethal behavior, are urgently needed. In cross-sectional studies, individuals with depression who attempt suicide have lower midbrain serotonin transporter binding potential compared with those who do not attempt suicide, and higher serotonin1A binding potential in the raphe nuclei (RN) is associated with greater lethality of past suicide attempts and suicidal intent and ideation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether serotonin transporter binding potential in the lower midbrain predicts future suicide attempts and whether higher RN serotonin1A binding potential predicts future suicidal ideation and intent and lethality of future suicide attempts.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective 2-year observational study, a well-characterized cohort of 100 patients presenting for treatment of a major depressive episode of at least moderate severity underwent positron emission tomography using carbon 11-labeled N-(2-(1-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl))-N-(2-pyridyl)-cyclohexanecarboxamide ([11C]WAY-100635), a serotonin1A antagonist; a subset of 50 patients also underwent imaging with carbon 11-labeled 3-amino-4-(2-dimethylaminomethyl-phenylsulfanyl)- benzonitrile ([11C]DASB), a serotonin transporter radioligand. Imaging was performed at Columbia University Medical Center from May 3, 1999, to March 11, 2008. Follow-up was completed on May 28, 2010, and data were analyzed from August 1, 2013, to March 1, 2016.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were treated naturalistically in the community and followed up for 2 years with documentation of suicidal behavior, its lethality, and suicidal ideation and intent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Suicide attempt or suicide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 100 patients undergoing follow-up for more than 2 years (39 men; 61 women; mean [SD] age, 40.2 [11.2] years), 15 made suicide attempts, including 2 who died by suicide. Higher RN serotonin1A binding potential predicted more suicidal ideation at 3 (b = 0.02; t = 3.45; P = .001) and 12 (b = 0.02; t = 3.63; P = .001) months and greater lethality of subsequent suicidal behavior (b = 0.08; t = 2.89; P = .01). Exploratory analyses suggest that the serotonin1A binding potential of the insula (t = 2.41; P = .04), anterior cingulate (t = 2.27; P = .04), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (t = 2.44; P = .03) were also predictive of lethality. Contrary to our hypotheses, suicidal intent was not predicted by serotonin1A binding potential in any brain region (F1,10 = 0.83; P = .38), and midbrain serotonin transporter binding potential did not predict future attempts (log-rank χ21 = 0.4; P = .54), possibly owing to low power.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Greater RN serotonin1A binding potential predicted higher suicidal ideation and more lethal suicidal behavior during a 2-year period. This effect may be mediated through less serotonin neuron firing and release, which affects mood and suicidal ideation and thereby decision making.
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York2Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oquendo
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York2Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Hanga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galfalvy
authors.affiliation: Tonix Pharmaceuticals, LLC, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York2Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York2Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Milak
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York2Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: M Elizabeth
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sublette
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York2Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cisneros-Trujillo
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York2Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Ainsley K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Ramin V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Parsey
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York5Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: J John
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001596:Benzylamines; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011725:Pyridines; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000502:physiology*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D001596:Benzylamines; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; C420885:N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-amino-4-cyanophenylthio)benzylamine; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide