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A Social Neuroscience Perspective on Suicidal Behavior

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Understanding Suicide

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Abstract

Suicidal behavior is social in nature in many cases. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of the suicidal crisis and the occurrence of suicidal acts will benefit from using the tools of social neuroscience. In this chapter, we will briefly review some results. First, suicidal acts have been associated with deficient biochemical systems, notably the serotonergic system and the stress system, both being strongly implicated in social interactions. Second, several neurocognitive deficits have been recently showed including impaired decision-making, reduced cognitive control, and deficient memory. These deficits have been related to a dysfunctional network of brain regions including the orbitofrontal cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In an integrated view, we propose that one basic alteration increasing the risk of suicidal acts is a deficient valuation process. More generally, suicidal behavior may reflect a breach in social homeostasis.

These, then, are my last words to you: Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact. -William James, Is Life worth Living?, 1904

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McGill Group for Suicide Studies, McGill University and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 boulevard Lasalle, Montréal, Québec, H4H 1R3, Canada

    Anthony J. Gifuni & Fabrice Jollant

  2. Department of Psychiatry, CHU de Nîmes, Nîmes, France

    Fabrice Jollant

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  1. Anthony J. Gifuni
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  2. Fabrice Jollant
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Correspondence to Fabrice Jollant .

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  1. Academic Hospital of Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Philippe Courtet

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Gifuni, A.J., Jollant, F. (2016). A Social Neuroscience Perspective on Suicidal Behavior. In: Courtet, P. (eds) Understanding Suicide. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26282-6_11

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