Suicidal behaviors in surviving monozygotic and dizygotic co-twins: is the nature of the co-twin's cause of death a factor?

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2009 Dec;39(6):569-75. doi: 10.1521/suli.2009.39.6.569.

Abstract

Genetically informative samples can address hereditary and experiential influences on suicide-related behaviors. The frequency of suicide-related behaviors was compared in twins from two survivor groups: (1) those whose co-twins' deaths were suicides (monozygotic [MZ]: n = 47; dizygotic [DZ]: n = 31), and (2) those whose co-twins' deaths were nonsuicides (MZ: n = 347; DZ: n = 170). The frequency of suicide attempts among suicide survivors was significantly higher in MZ than DZ twins, while the frequency of suicide attempts among nonsuicide twin survivors did not differ between MZ and DZ twins. Twin concordance for suicide attempts more likely reflects a genetic predisposition than a behavioral reaction to the loss.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude to Death
  • Cause of Death*
  • Data Collection
  • Female
  • Grief
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life / psychology
  • Suicide / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Survivors / psychology
  • Twins, Dizygotic / psychology*
  • Twins, Monozygotic / psychology*