Enrique Baca-Garcia (editor) - Behavioral Neurobiology of Suicide and Self Harm

Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences provides critical and comprehensive discussions of the most significant areas of behavioral neuroscience research, written by leading international authorities. Each volume in the series represents the most informative and contemporary account of its subject available, making it an unrivalled reference source. Each volume will be made available in both print and electronic form. provides critical and comprehensive discussions of the most significant areas of behavioral neuroscience research, written by leading international authorities. Each volume in the series represents the most informative and contemporary account of its subject available, making it an unrivalled reference source. Each volume will be made available in both print and electronic form.

With the development of new methodologies for brain imaging, genetic and genomic analyses, molecular engineering of mutant animals, novel routes for drug delivery, and sophisticated cross-species behavioral assessments, it is now possible to study behavior relevant to psychiatric and neurological diseases and disorders on the physiological level. The Behavioral Neurosciences series focuses on translational medicine and cutting-edge technologies. Preclinical and clinical trials for the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics as well as prevention efforts are covered whenever possible. Special attention is also drawn on epigenetical aspects, especially in psychiatric disorders.

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Understanding what underlies a purely human, although paradoxical, behavior such as suicidal behavior remains to be as challenging as reversing a polyhedral puzzle. On the one hand, the cause of death depends totally on who suffers it. On the other hand, suicide is the cause of death in which we have made the least progress in terms of management and prevention as a species. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that while we are able to devote enormous efforts to external threats, we do not appear to have the same capacity to modify a behavior which is theoretically under our control.

Although out of the scope of this volume, it is worth noting all the profound ethical and anthropological implications of suicide since ancient times. On purpose, this volume has omitted any reference to culture since plenty of work has been dedicated to this topic elsewhere and we aimed to focus on clinical and biological aspects of suicide and suicidal behavior.

Thankfully, true eminences and world leaders in suicide research have kindly agreed to collaborate and co-authored the following chapters. The reader will find this volume to be an up-to-date critical review of cutting-edge issues in suicide research, hence including authors personal views.

Dr. Arles provides an updated overview of the epidemiology of suicide in the USA. Although the USA is the top world country in suicide research, it is one of the few countries, according to the World Health Organization, where there has been no decrease in suicidal behavior over the past few years, which makes this chapter particularly relevant.

Prof. Oquendo outlines the difficulties in research on the prevention and treatment of suicidal behavior. How far can we go? What are the problems that prevent us from progressing?

Prof. Turecki covers a subject which is absolutely topical and at the frontier of knowledge: the epigenetics of suicide. Not only is this area of ongoing research on the borderline between Darwinian and Lamarckian dogmas, but also it may shed some light on the understanding and treatment of other diseases such as cancer. Epigenetics links exposure to the environment with the transmission of these changes to the next generations, which may therefore explain the mechanisms through which suicide risk may run between generations.

An unavoidable topic concerns the relationship between psychopathology of suicidal behavior (hopelessness, impulsiveness, and aggressiveness) and their biological correlates, which is dealt by Dr. Vaquero, which critically reviews the definition of these psychopathological characteristics and the extent to which they may be related to biological markers, thus becoming potential endophenotypes.

A very relevant issue for clinicians is the repetition of suicide attempts due to health services use and high risk of further suicidal acts. Although this topic has received little attention from previous research, Prof. Mendez has done an excellent update.

Although well established, we tend to ignore the association of suicidal behavior with a clear sexual dimorphism. Dr. Barrigon has compiled epidemiological and clinical data to support this notion, namely relevant differences in suicidal behavior between men and women. Whether these differences could be attributable to cultural (gender) or biological factors (sex) requires further investigation.