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Genetic influences on suicide and nonfatal suicidal behavior: Twin study findings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

N.L. Pedersen  and
A. Fiske
N.L. Pedersen
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Box 281, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77Stockholm, Sweden
A. Fiske*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, PO Box 6040, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 304 293 2001; fax: +1 304 293 6606. E-mail address: Amy.Fiske@mail.wvu.edu (A. Fiske).
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Abstract

It has been well established that suicidal behavior is familial. Twin studies provide a unique opportunity to distinguish genetic effects from other familial influences. Consistent with findings from previous twin studies, including case series and selected samples, data from the population-based Swedish Twin Registry clearly demonstrate the importance of genetic influences on suicide. Twin studies of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts also implicate genetic influences, even when accounting for the effects of psychopathology. Future work is needed to evaluate the possibility of age and gender differences in heritability of suicide and nonfatal suicidal behavior.

Keywords

SuicideSuicidal ideationSuicide attemptConcordanceTwin studiesHeritability
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 25 , Issue 5: The role of genetics in promoting suicide prevention and the mental health of the population - Nobel Conference: The role of genetics in promoting suicide prevention and the mental health of the population , June 2010 , pp. 264 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2010

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Footnotes

1

Tel.: +46 8 524 87418; fax: +46 8 31 49 75.

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