Book Chapter
Relationships of Genes and Early-Life Experience to the Neurobiology of Suicidal Behavior
J John Mann, D Currier
The International Handbook of Suicide Prevention: Second Edition | Published : 2016
Abstract
Suicidal behavior occurs in the context of a diathesis or predisposition that is characterized by traits in multiple domains: behavioral, clinical, cognitive, personality, and biologic. These traits have their origins in combinations of genetic and early-life experiences during critical formative periods of development. The major systems where abnormalities have been observed in suicide and nonfatal suicide attempts are the serotonergic system, and the stress-response systems of the noradrenergic system and hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis. This chapter outlines the main alterations in neurobiological function that have been documented in suicide attempters and those who die by sui..
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