NCT03327129

Identifying the Neural Basis of Capability for Suicide

• Status: Suspended
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 90 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Unity Health Toronto · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Since capability for suicide involves overriding potential pain, and the opioid system plays a strong role in controlling pain perception, it follows that capability for suicide may be impacted by the opioid system. The goal of the proposed research is to identify the neural network underlying capability for suicide in order to determine if it can be a target for identifying high-risk individuals and for intervention.

Detailed description

Little evidence exists distinguishing individuals with suicidal ideation (SI) from those at risk for suicidal behaviour, illustrating the need for more comprehensive biomarkers for clinicians to guide their treatment approach and for new treatment avenues. Current theories of suicide have suggested the importance of an individual's capability for suicide in predicting suicide attempt or death. Building on this, Yovell and colleagues (2016) provided important preliminary data that the opioid system affects suicide risk, but the neural mechanisms and their relationship to capability for suicide are unclear. The goal of the proposed research is to identify the neural network underlying capability for suicide using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in order to determine if it can be a target for identifying high-risk individuals and for intervention.

Conditions

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Suicide
• Suicidal Ideation
• Psychiatric Illness

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	fMRI	An fMRI scan will be conducted to collect neuroimaging data. The scanning session will consist of a structural MRI, followed by resting state and task-based functional MRI protocol.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-01-01
• Primary completion: 2025-04-01
• Completion: 2028-09-01
• First posted: 2017-10-31
• Last updated: 2026-02-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada