The researchers, publishing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, suggest that the chemical serotonin, which is involved in fetal brain growth, may play a role. A stressful or deprived womb environment may interfere with the development of the fetus and its serotonin system; other studies have shown that the brains of people who exhibit suicidal behaviors have reduced serotonin activity.
Ultimately, these findings reveal that suicide brains differ from other brains in multiple ways—in other words, “we’re really dealing with some sort of biological imbalance,” Poulter says. “It’s not an attitude problem.” And because epigenetic changes typically occur early in life, it may one day be possible to identify young people at risk for suicide by studying their methylation patterns and then to treat them with drugs that regulate this mechanism, Szyf notes.
Note: This article was originally printed with the title, "The Suicidal Brain".
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12 Comments
Add CommentI think the same cause of such biological imbalance, can cure the problem.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe article either fails to mention another study that should be done in connection with this or that study has not been done. The study would be looking at the brains of abuse victims who have not committed suicide. It would be interesting to know if these brains also suffer the same epigenetic changes, and if so what differences took place that caused the individual not to commit suicide, then compare the groups to perhaps develop improved methods of working with the abuse/suicide prone individuals in order to prevent these tragedies.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf experiences can cause this abnormal brain pattern, it is likely that remedial experiences will restore a more normal pattern. This effect on rats handled by humans might indicate that learnt helplessnes is a factor as rats can't express their natural avoidance behaviour (hopefully they are not being actually abused by humans...why am I not convinced of that?).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSome people aren't born with enough "get-up-and-go-do-good-stuff" chemicals! People find ways to rise above very bad enviroments all the time. I knew a person from long ago, that enjoyed grossing people out about really sick stuff. FACT: This person was "NEVER" abused! This person passed away from cancer some years ago.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI want my tax dollars spent on learning what chemicals are normal and healthy. If you want to learn how to do anything right... the best way is from some one who is sucessful. Some people love watching and reading murders and real trash. Were they born that way?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy wonderful son took his own life almost five years while under the influence of alcohol. He was twenty-five and was being treated for depression at the time. He was very much loved throughout his life, but he was abused in another way. From the time he was five days old he started screaming and continued for a year until a new pediatrician diagnosed him as having colic. The doctor discovered he was missing an enzyme that a person needs to digest milk and milk products. He improved after a diet change but it seemed that a year of being in pain affected him in his life. Can this pain be considered a form of abuse?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis is a great magazine.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPlease remember, another thing that causes suicide is the abuse by mental health professionals. My mother committed suicide with an overdose of librium prescribed by so called "doctors." Their idea of treating the patient is to send them out the door with a prescription. It isn't all brain chemicals. It is the abuse by the system too. You forget, people are still treated as cattle and a number. Define "successful" people, they all have problems too, just better and richer at hiding it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI think people should look at the environment, especially the family and the economic model of society (capitalism) Marx already knew of capitalisms destructive effects on the human condition, unfortunately we have too many idiots on the planet today.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI think people should look at the environment, especially the family and the economic model of society (capitalism) Marx already knew of capitalisms destructive effects on the human condition, unfortunately we have too many idiots on the planet today.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this<STRONG><a href="http://bestcbstore.com/health&fitness/spiritualhealth/spiritual%20recovery%20from%20narcissistic%20abu.html">NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER, RECOVERY FROM NARCISSTIC ABUSE</a></STRONG>
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGeorgeB--linking suicide rates to "capitalisms destructive effects" is beyond ridiculous. Every economic system has its ups and downs, and more people will commit suicide during hard times, no matter what system they live under.
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