# Stress, Inflammation, Aggression and Emotion Regulation in Suicidal Behavior

> **NIH NIH P50** · NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC · 2021 · $159,479

## Abstract

SUMMARY – PROJECT 5
Conte Center Project 5 investigates the stress-diathesis model of suicidal behavior. Specifically, we examined
stress response using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and Ecological Momentary Assessment of daily
stressors (EMA), and studied the role of childhood adversity (CA) and impulsive aggression in depressed suicide
attempters, depressed nonattempters and healthy volunteers. We found that while aggression was higher in
attempters, stress responsivity was heightened only in attempters with high reactive/impulsive aggression. We
also observed that this highly stress responsive, impulsive group displayed a cluster of characteristics: a pattern
of frequent brief, highly variable suicidal ideation (SI) that correlated to a history of CA and increased in response
to daily stressors, together with poorer emotion regulation. In contrast, we found that high planning of suicide
attempts was related to family history of suicide and persistent SI. Thus, we observe different sets of
characteristics associated with suicidal outcomes at opposite ends of a continuum from very impulsive to highly
planned and deliberate suicidal behaviors. In this application, we expand our work by further exploring the
neurobiological and cognitive underpinnings of impulsivity/planning of suicide attempts. Specifically, we will
examine executive functioning and emotion regulation strategies (in vivo during the TSST and EMA) and
determine their relationships with suicidal behavior, SI variability and stress response. A second promising
extension of our work is to study related stress response mechanisms, particularly inflammation, which is
associated with suicide risk factors of CA and aggression. We have shown that the cytokine-activated kynurenine
pathway is upregulated in attempters, and that lower levels of the anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated fatty acid
(PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid predict suicide attempts, and we have pilot data on elevated IL-6 in high risk
attempters, consistent with previous literature. A clearer delineation of the behavioral and physiological pathways
to suicidal behavior will improve prevention by identifying a more personalized approach depending on the risk
profile.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10207367
- **Project number:** 5P50MH090964-09
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** BARBARA STANLEY
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $159,479
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-07-19 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10207367

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10207367, Stress, Inflammation, Aggression and Emotion Regulation in Suicidal Behavior (5P50MH090964-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10207367. Licensed CC0.

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