Recent breakthroughs in genetic and brain structural correlates of suicidal behaviours: A short review

Suicide accounts for more than 700,000 deaths annually and is the fourth leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 29. Despite years of research to understand the aetiology and pathophysiology of suicidal behaviour, many questions remain unresolved; for example, whether suicidal behaviour has a unique genetic or neurobiological basis and how these differ from related psychiatric conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc. Identifying these biological correlates is paramount to advancing our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of suicidal behaviour. This literature review delves into the complex nature of suicidal thoughts and behaviours, integrating insights from recent large-scale genetic and neuroimaging studies published between 2018 and 2023. Recent genome-wide association studies have uncovered specific genomic loci associated with specific suicidal behaviours. However, there is a need for larger and more diverse samples in these studies to overcome challenges in replicability and generalisability. Neuroimaging studies have also revealed structural brain differences associated with suicidal behaviour, thanks to international consortium-level efforts that have enabled data sharing, collaboration, and coordinated analyses that improve the robustness and reliability of findings. Despite promising progress in identifying the genetic and neurobiological underpinnings of suicidal behaviour, the translation of these advances and findings into effective suicide prevention strategies and clinical tools remains a crucial challenge; consequently, future studies must focus on integrating biological elements into an improved mechanistic understanding of the aetiology of suicidal behaviour, which in turn can translate into new strategies for early detection, intervention and treatment.