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01-12-2021 | Suicide | Research article

An exploration of the genetic epidemiology of non-suicidal self-harm and suicide attempt

Authors: Abigail Emma Russell, Gibran Hemani, Hannah J Jones, Tamsin Ford, David Gunnell, Jon Heron, Carol Joinson, Paul Moran, Caroline Relton, Matthew Suderman, Sarah Watkins, Becky Mars

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Empirical evidence supporting the distinction between suicide attempt (SA) and non-suicidal self-harm (NSSH) is lacking. Although NSSH is a risk factor for SA, we do not currently know whether these behaviours lie on a continuum of severity, or whether they are discrete outcomes with different aetiologies. We conducted this exploratory genetic epidemiology study to investigate this issue further.

Methods

We explored the extent of genetic overlap between NSSH and SA in a large, richly-phenotyped cohort (the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children; N = 4959), utilising individual-level genetic and phenotypic data to conduct analyses of genome-wide complex traits and polygenic risk scores (PRS).

Results

The single nucleotide polymorphism heritability of NSSH was estimated to be 13% (SE 0.07) and that of SA to be 0% (SE 0.07). Of the traits investigated, NSSH was most strongly correlated with higher IQ (rG = 0.31, SE = 0.22), there was little evidence of high genetic correlation between NSSH and SA (rG = − 0.1, SE = 0.54), likely due to the low heritability estimate for SA. The PRS for depression differentiated between those with NSSH and SA in multinomial regression. The optimal PRS prediction model for SA (Nagelkerke R² 0.022, p < 0.001) included ADHD, depression, income, anorexia and neuroticism and explained more variance than the optimal prediction model for NSSH (Nagelkerke R² 0.010, p < 0.001) which included ADHD, alcohol consumption, autism spectrum conditions, depression, IQ, neuroticism and suicide attempt.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that SA does not have a large genetic component, and that although NSSH and SA are not discrete outcomes there appears to be little genetic overlap between the two. The relatively small sample size and resulting low heritability estimate for SA was a limitation of the study. Combined with low heritability estimates, this implies that family or population structures in SA GWASs may contribute to signals detected.

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Title: An exploration of the genetic epidemiology of non-suicidal self-harm and suicide attempt
Authors: Abigail Emma Russell
Gibran Hemani
Hannah J Jones
Tamsin Ford
David Gunnell
Jon Heron
Carol Joinson
Paul Moran
Caroline Relton
Matthew Suderman
Sarah Watkins
Becky Mars
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Suicide
Suicide
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03216-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

An exploration of the genetic epidemiology of non-suicidal self-harm and suicide attempt

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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