Defining suicidality phenotypes for genetic studies: perspectives of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Suicide Working Group
Journal
Molecular Psychiatry
Journal Volume
30
Journal Issue
12
Start Page
6144
End Page
6154
ISSN
1476-5578
Date Issued
2025-12
Author(s)
Colbert, Sarah M C
Monson, Eric T
Andreassen, Ole A
Ayinde, Olatunde O
Barr, Peter B
Bejan, Cosmin A
Ceja, Zuriel
Coon, Hilary
DiBlasi, Emily
Edenberg, Howard J
Gelernter, Joel
Hatoum, Alexander
Izotova, Anastasia
Johnson, Emma C
Kaufman, Erin A
Kranzler, Henry R
Koromina, Maria
Lehto, Kelli
Myung, Woojae
Nurnberger, John I
Serretti, Alessandro
Smoller, Jordan W
Stein, Murray B
Zai, Clement C
Erlangsen, Annette
Gaine, Marie
Martorell, Lourdes
Sud, Reeteka
Toma, Claudio
Bigdeli, Tim B
Kimbrel, Nathan A
Ruderfer, Douglas
Docherty, Anna R
Mann, J John
Mullins, Niamh
et al.
Abstract
Suicidality phenotypes, consisting of suicidal ideation (SI), suicide attempt (SA), and suicide death (SD), are all heritable but present unique challenges in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) due to their individual complexity, overlap with each other and with related self-harm phenotypes, and varying associations with psychiatric disorders. GWAS have uncovered several loci associated with suicidality phenotypes by meta-analyzing data from multiple cohorts. However, combining datasets from many research groups, where each group may use different study designs, phenotyping instruments, and definitions of suicidality phenotypes, presents challenges. Heterogeneity resulting from these differences can limit genetic discovery; harmonizing phenotype definitions to ensure consistency will greatly improve results. Here, we describe a standardized phenotyping protocol that draws on the expertise of a subgroup of clinicians, researchers, and experts from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Suicide Working Group to propose consensus definitions for SI, SA, and SD for genetic studies.
Type
journal article