Resting-state functional connectivity of the amygdala in suicide attempters with major depressive disorder

- We investigated the relationship between RSFC of the amygdala and suicide in MDD.
- Suicide attempters had increased RSFC of the amygdala with several brain regions.
- Significant correlation between RSFC of the amygdala and SSI was observed.
- The results suggest a functional neural basis for suicidality in MDD.

In this study, we investigated the difference in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the amygdala between suicide attempters and non-suicide attempters with major depressive disorder (MDD) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This study included 19 suicide attempters with MDD and 19 non-suicide attempters with MDD. RSFC was compared between the two groups and the regression analyses were conducted to identify the correlation between RSFC and Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) scores in the suicide attempt group. Statistical significance was set at p-value (uncorrected) < 0.005 with k ≥ 28 voxels. Compared with non-suicide attempters, suicide attempters showed significantly increased RSFC of the left amygdala with the right insula and left superior orbitofrontal area, and increased RSFC of the right amygdala with the left middle temporal area. The regression analysis showed a significant correlation between the SSI total score and RSFC of the right amygdala with the right parahippocampal area in the suicide attempt group. The present RSFC findings provide evidence of a functional neural basis and will help reveal the pathophysiology underlying suicidality in subjects with MDD.