December 24, 1983. A day I won’t readily forget. Even though I didn’t know that event until a few days later. One of my employees did not show up for work. A reliable fellow, Mohammed Saadoui, a fellow chemical engineer.
So, I went to check up on him. When I found him hanging in his apartment.
In retrospect- and with more information- it was obvious that we missed the signals. That accident he had on the Blue Ridge Mountains with my car- it wasn’t an accident. He was hoping to kill himself then, too. But, eventually, he did succeed.
And, less than two years ago, one of my son’s friends committed the same sort of act. A child, as opposed to a grown man, who was being chased by the Algerian secret police. I still recall Mickey’s smile and wit often.
So, it was with extreme interest that I read this new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Drs. Guintivano, Maher, Eaton, Payne, Wilcox, and Kaminsky, along with Tori Brown, Alison Newcomer, Marcus Jones, and Olivia Cox ascertained that there may be genetic markers that can indicate a person’s vulnerability to suicide attempts.
In particular, it was the gene SKA2, which modifies the brain’s reactions to stress hormones- in particular to cortisol. Should this gene be modified by a chemical change (a methyl group), the brain never “applies the brakes” when flooded with the stress hormone.
The researchers first studied the brains of folks who were healthy and those with mental illness (some 150 postmortem studies). Those who committed suicide had elevated levels of the compounds that affect SKA2 gene performance. They then examined some 325 folks participating in a suicide prevention study to see if they had the same biomarker- which to a better than 80% accuracy did so manifest the genetic alteration.
But, it may not mean these individuals will certainly attempt suicide. It can predict the stress response in the individuals. But suicide attempts are related to a combination of biological, psychological, and social issues- plus access to means to actually perform the act.
But, if the biomarker is present, it would be prudent to effect monitoring, should suicidal tendencies be observed in the patient. (Perhaps, this technique can be used to discern which of our returning troops are more likely to commit suicide; given their elevated propensity, this would be a great use of this study.)
Oh, how tragic, Roy! What horrible events to live with, for you and your son, and, of course, the families of the victims. I am so intrigued by the study that you mention and truly hope that it can help prevent these tragedies in the future!
Suerae Stein recently posted..Class Registration Time!
That’s the idea, Suerae.
But, of course, we have both lived long enough to know that the ideal and the real don’t always coincide….
This is incredible, but not surprising, Roy. I’ve dealt with suicide in my life too. It’s horrible. I’ve also known people with far greater challenges handle them with grace (interestingly, these people seem to be very reactive to little things – wonder if there’s some biomarker correlation there?). It makes sense that there’s a driver present that spurs such behavior. Thanks for sharing.
Nanette recently posted..Small business success stalls with wiggling and wagging
Yes, Nanette. I, too, have found many people that handle BIG problems with aplomb, but approach apoplexy when encountering the little things in life. (I think there’s way more to this story than either of us just mentioned, as well.)
One can only hope that the more we learn about these matters, the more we know…
Well, I suppose that genes might be a factor. That said, I am conviced that each story is unique, and, unless there is a direct link between genes and an illness (ie, Down Syndrome…,), we do have a choice. We might have a predisposition, but we still have a choice.
Muriel recently posted..Epaule Tatoo
We do have a choice, Muriel, but if we genetically predisposed to something, then it means that the choice may be more lopsided than for most.