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Open Access 01-12-2016 | Psychiatry and Preclinical Psychiatric Studies - Short communication

Low digit ratio (2D:4D) in male suicide victims

Authors: Bernd Lenz, Daniela Thiem, Polyxeni Bouna-Pyrrou, Christiane Mühle, Christina Stoessel, Peter Betz, Johannes Kornhuber

Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission | Issue 12/2016

Abstract

Although women attempt suicides equally or more often than men do, men are more likely to die of suicide than women (sex paradox of suicidal behavior). Furthermore, the male traits of aggression and impulsivity predict suicide completion. Here, we studied the second-to-fourth-finger length ratio (2D:4D), a proxy for prenatal androgen exposure, in 46 suicide corpses and 25 non-suicide corpses. We report significantly lower 2D:4D in male suicide corpses than non-suicide corpses (p = .030, partial η ² = .147). There was no significant association between 2D:4D and the suicide method. Our findings indicate increased risk of suicide following higher prenatal androgen exposure in males. The results may improve future efforts to predict and prevent suicides.

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Title: Low digit ratio (2D:4D) in male suicide victims
Authors: Bernd Lenz
Daniela Thiem
Polyxeni Bouna-Pyrrou
Christiane Mühle
Christina Stoessel
Peter Betz
Johannes Kornhuber
Publication date: 01-12-2016
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission / Issue 12/2016
Print ISSN: 0300-9564
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1463
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-016-1608-4

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Low digit ratio (2D:4D) in male suicide victims

Abstract

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Abstract

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