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

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 o

SUBMITTER: Russell AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8066869 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature