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MRI correlates of suicide attempt history in unipolar depression.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ahearn, EP; Jamison, KR; Steffens, DC; Cassidy, F; Provenzale, JM; Lehman, A; Weisler, RH; Carroll, BJ; Krishnan, KR
Published in: Biol Psychiatry
August 15, 2001

BACKGROUND: Suicide represents a major health problem in the United States, and prediction of suicide attempts is difficult. No structural neuroimaging studies have been done to specifically examine findings in patients who have attempted suicide. The objective of this study was to compare MRI findings in unipolar patients with and without a history of a suicide attempt. METHODS: In this post hoc analysis, 20 unipolar subjects with a history of a suicide attempt were matched by age and gender to unipolar subjects without a history of an attempt. Subjects were also matched on parameters such as cardiovascular history, electroconvulsive treatment history, and history of psychosis. Subjects with a history of any neurologic condition were excluded. There were no significant differences in age of onset of depression, number of episodes of depression, and Hamilton Depression scores between the two groups. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were rated using the Coffey and Boyko rating scales. RESULTS: Unipolar patients with a history of a suicide attempt demonstrated significantly more subcortical gray matter hyperintensities compared with patients without such a history. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with abnormal MRI findings may be at higher risk for mood disorders and suicide attempts because of disruption of critical neuroanatomic pathways. Gray matter hyperintensities in the basal ganglia may be especially associated with risk for suicide attempts.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biol Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0006-3223

Publication Date

August 15, 2001

Volume

50

Issue

4

Start / End Page

266 / 270

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Psychiatry
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy
  • Depressive Disorder
  • Brain
  • Aged
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Ahearn, E. P., Jamison, K. R., Steffens, D. C., Cassidy, F., Provenzale, J. M., Lehman, A., … Krishnan, K. R. (2001). MRI correlates of suicide attempt history in unipolar depression. Biol Psychiatry, 50(4), 266–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01098-8
Ahearn, E. P., K. R. Jamison, D. C. Steffens, F. Cassidy, J. M. Provenzale, A. Lehman, R. H. Weisler, B. J. Carroll, and K. R. Krishnan. “MRI correlates of suicide attempt history in unipolar depression.Biol Psychiatry 50, no. 4 (August 15, 2001): 266–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01098-8.
Ahearn EP, Jamison KR, Steffens DC, Cassidy F, Provenzale JM, Lehman A, et al. MRI correlates of suicide attempt history in unipolar depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2001 Aug 15;50(4):266–70.
Ahearn, E. P., et al. “MRI correlates of suicide attempt history in unipolar depression.Biol Psychiatry, vol. 50, no. 4, Aug. 2001, pp. 266–70. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01098-8.
Ahearn EP, Jamison KR, Steffens DC, Cassidy F, Provenzale JM, Lehman A, Weisler RH, Carroll BJ, Krishnan KR. MRI correlates of suicide attempt history in unipolar depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2001 Aug 15;50(4):266–270.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biol Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0006-3223

Publication Date

August 15, 2001

Volume

50

Issue

4

Start / End Page

266 / 270

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Psychiatry
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy
  • Depressive Disorder
  • Brain
  • Aged