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Open Access 01-12-2019 | Suicide | Study protocol

Suicidal risk and executive functions in major depressive disorder: a study protocol

Authors: Miquel Roca, Antonio Riera-López del Amo, Pau Riera-Serra, Mª. Angeles Pérez-Ara, Adoración Castro, J. Roman Juan, Mauro García-Toro, Patricia García-Pazo, Margalida Gili

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

Background

Suicide is a serious public health concern. Depression is the main gateway to suicidal behavior. The already established relationship between depression and suicidal risk should now focus on the investigation of more specific factors: recent studies have suggested an association between vulnerability to suicidal behavior and neurocognitive alterations, a nuclear symptom of depression. This project aims to identify alterations in the Executive Functions (EF) of patients suffering a first depressive episode that might constitute a risk factor for suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts and suicide, to allow for more adequate suicide prevention.

Methods

Prospective longitudinal design involving two groups (first depressive episodes with and without alterations in their EF) and four repeated measures (0, 6, 12 and 24 months). The estimated minimum sample size is 216 subjects. The variables and measurement instruments will include socio-demographic variables, clinical variables (age of illness onset, family and personal antecedents, psychopathological and medical comorbidity, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and completed suicides, severity of depression, including melancholic or atypical, remission of the depressive episode), and neuropsychological variables (EF and decision-making processes evaluated through the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB)).

Discussion

First and foremost, the identification of clinical and neuropsychological risk factors associated with suicidal behavior will open the possibility to prevent such behavior in patients with a first depressive episode in the context of clinical practice. Secondly, interventions aimed at cognitive impairment (in particular: EF) derived from the study may be incorporated into strategies for the prevention of suicidal behavior. Finally, impaired neurocognitive function (even in early stages) could become an identifiable endophenotype or “marker” in clinical and neurobiological studies about suicidal behavior in depressive patients.

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Title: Suicidal risk and executive functions in major depressive disorder: a study protocol
Authors: Miquel Roca
Antonio Riera-López del Amo
Pau Riera-Serra
Mª. Angeles Pérez-Ara
Adoración Castro
J. Roman Juan
Mauro García-Toro
Patricia García-Pazo
Margalida Gili
Publication date: 01-12-2019
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Suicide
Suicide
Affective Disorder
Affective Disorder
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2233-1

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Suicidal risk and executive functions in major depressive disorder: a study protocol

Abstract

Background

Methods

Discussion

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Discussion

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