Understanding and treating the factors associated with these perception abnormalities could prevent at least a quarter of suicide attempts and deaths – ScienceDaily



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Researchers at RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland) have revealed that a quarter of suicide attempts are badociated with a malfunction in the way the brain interprets basic perceptual information, such as what we see, hear and think. Research shows that this dysfunction predicts suicidal behavior and offers new opportunities for suicide treatment and prevention. The research was published today in JAMA psychiatry.

Symptoms such as depressed mood, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness are well documented in suicidal behaviors. However, in an badysis of more than 80,000 people, new research found that a quarter of those who attempted suicide or who died by suicide had problems with basic sensory experiences, such as to hear or see things that do not really exist – in other words, "perception anomalies".

According to this study, such episodes are not necessarily badociated with psychotic illnesses or depression and can occur in people who do not suffer from mental illness.

Research conducted over the last 15 years has shown that experiences such as "hearing voices" are much more common than previously thought – about 5-7% of the general population report having at least occasionally experiences such as hearing voices. For some people, these experiences occur when the brain is stressed or when the levels of adaptation are exceeded.

Dr. Ian Kelleher, Research Fellow for Psychiatry at RCSI and responsible for the study, commented, "Our research shows that, if we can understand and treat the factors badociated with these perceptual abnormalities, we could prevent at least One-quarter of suicide attempts and deaths – 1 million people commit suicide every year is a very encouraging prospect for suicide prevention. "

"These results show the need for clinicians to pay special attention to patients reporting a psychotic experience experience, as well as increased funding for research aimed at recognizing a subtype of suicide." psychotic, "added Dr. Kelleher.

Kathryn Yates, psychiatrist of RCSI and co-author of the study, said, "If we want to understand suicide, we need to know a lot more about the abnormalities of perception – what brings people to hear their voices How do these experiences relate to biological and social factors factors involved in suicide risk There are still many unresolved issues, but this research suggests new ways to improve behavior prediction suicidal. "

The paper, Psychotic Experiences and Risk of Suicidal Ideas, Suicide Attempts and Deaths: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Population Studies, is published in JAMA psychiatry.

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Material provided by Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI). Note: Content can be changed for style and length.

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