Genetic and neurobiological approaches to understanding suicidal behaviors

Résumé

Historically, societal views on suicidal behaviors have largely revolved around the religious and moral implications of ending one's life. These views have differed greatly across cultures and time, and only recently has it become recognized that suicidal behaviors often reflect underlying mental illnesses and are not simply matters of conscience. This understanding led to the awareness that suicide could be empirically studied: a fundamental idea that has ultimately given rise to the current state, of suicide research. This chapter focuses on studies investigating neurobiological processes associated with suicide. We first examine evidence implicating genetic factors in the susceptibility to suicidal behaviors, and subsequently, we discuss molecular, neurochemical, and other biological approaches used by studies investigating this complex phenotype. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved) GÉNÉTIQUE NEUROLOGIE BIOLOGIE FAMILLE JUMEAUX ADOPTION SÉROTONINE STRESS CHOLESTÉROL