Individuals Who Had a Lifetime History of Suicide Attempts and Their Relationships With Inflammation, Severity of Depressive Symptoms, and Childhood Maltreatments

Lifetime history of suicide attempts is associated with inflammatory mechanisms, severity of depressive symptoms, and childhood trauma. This cross-sectional study enrolled 54 suicide attempters and 154 nonsuicide attempters. All individuals were assessed through a questionnaire, a structured clinical interview, scales, anthropometric measures, and laboratory biomarkers. Individuals with a history of lifetime suicide attempts showed significant positive correlations regarding soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and severity of depressive symptoms (p = 0.013), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and severity of depressive symptoms (p = 0.04), and absenteeism from work and childhood physical abuse (p = 0.012). Suicide attempters also experienced more childhood trauma (sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect) compared with nonsuicide attempters. IL-4 levels were significantly lower in individuals who attempted suicide than in nonsuicidal individuals. Lifetime suicide attempts in major affective disorders were associated with childhood trauma and proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.