Annual health MOTs could assess patients’ risk of suicide, new research suggests.
People who have lower levels of a particular protein in their blood are more likely to have tried to end their lives, regardless of how recent their attempt was, a study found.
Researchers hope their findings could lead to an easy blood test to determine people’s suicide risk, which is currently based on past attempts and is fairly unreliable.
Study author Professor Brandon Gibb from Binghamton University in New York, said: ‘Testing [protein] levels can be incorporated into the standard blood test your primary care physician runs at annual checkups.
‘Just like cholesterol levels help to determine levels of risk for heart disease, eventually doctors could have mental health tests that determine suicide risk.’
More than 800,000 people die from suicide around the world every year. It is the third most common cause of death in 15-to-24 year olds in the US.
Annual health MOTs could assess patients’ risk of suicide, new research suggests (stock)
How the research was carried out
The researchers analyzed the mothers of 73 children taking part in a study assessing depression and anxiety.
Of the mothers, 34 admitted to inflicting injuries on themselves with the intent to die. On average, the women attempted suicide 13 years ago.
All of the study’s participants gave blood samples and completed a mental health assessment.
The researchers focused on levels of a particular plasma protein, known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which has previously been linked to altered brain activity that could cause depression or suicide intentions.
‘Just like cholesterol, doctors could have mental health tests’
Results reveal BDNF levels are lower in those who have tried to commit suicide in the past, regardless of how recent their attempt was.
Professor Gibb said: ‘For this experiment, it was really important to understand that women with a history of suicide attempts who are not in a current suicidal crisis still have a BDNF marker that shows up lower.
‘This suggests that BDNF is not just a marker of a person’s current suicidality or mood, but is actually a stable marker that may be able to predict risk of future suicide attempts.’
‘Testing BDNF levels can be incorporated into the standard blood test your primary care physician runs at annual checkups.
‘Just like cholesterol levels help to determine levels of risk for heart disease, eventually doctors could have mental health tests that determine suicide risk.’