Biomarkers as Predictors of Suicidal Risk in Adolescents

The Cleveland Clinic80 enrolled

Overview

Suicide is one of the most devastating events in society at all levels. The primary goal of this study is to predict suicide in adolescents at risk. We will utilize blood biomarker measurement and clinical risk factor scales to develop a tool to identify adolescents at risk for suicide earlier, which will allow clinicians to prescribe timely treatment and prevent suicide.

Suicide, the second leading cause of death in adolescents (15-24 year olds), is the most tragic complication of a psychiatric condition in this age group. Every year, approximately 157,000 youth receive medical care for suicide related injuries at emergency departments throughout the U.S. Despite some progress, suicide prevention continues to be a daunting task. In adolescents, the risk of a second suicide attempt is approximately 30% after discharge from an inpatient psychiatric unit. Up to 80% of suicidal patients who subsequently died by suicide deny suicidal ideation in their last communication with a health care provider. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of biomarkers that can objectively identify which youth are most likely to engage in subsequent suicide attempts. Several lines of evidence (postmortem studies, genetic studies, biomarker studies) as well as preliminary studies conducted by our group have pointed to neuroinflammation as one of the neurobiological findings observed in suicidal behavior. In particular, the principal investigator and co- investigators have identified S100B - an astrocytic protein, which is a marker of blood brain barrier (BBB) impairment, as a novel biomarker associated with suicidality in adolescents. We are now also investigating three additional and important markers Kynurenic Acid (KYNA), Quinolinic Acid (QUIN), and Picolinic Acid (PIC) identified by Dr. Lena Brundin (Van Andel Institute) to be altered in patients after a suicide attempt. Other studies have reported several other peripheral inflammatory markers (PlMs) including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as associated with suicidality. Hence, PlMs either on their own or along with clinical markers may be particularly useful in predicting future suicide attempts. This study will investigate whether PIM levels, with or without clinical predictors, can be useful at the time of discharge from an inpatient psychiatric unit to predict suicidality in adolescent patients in the subsequent 12 months. The first aim of this study is to determine whether plasma levels of S100B, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, KYNA, QUIN, and PIC correlate with suicidal behavior (SB). Secondly, this study will investigate if any of the PlMs can predict suicidal attempts. Finally, we will test which combination of clinical risk factors and PlMs is able to most efficiently predict SB post-discharge from the inpatient unit. Innovative aspects of this study include: 1) The first study to longitudinally investigate levels of PlMs at the time of admission and their change at the time of discharge in adolescent patients being admitted for SB. 2) The first study to investigate whether level of PIMS (alone or in combination with clinical risk factors) at the time of discharge can predict readmissions for SB in the next 12 months. 3) Beside the well-studied PIMs in adult samples, specifically investigate novel biomarkers of inflammation- S100B and 3 markers of the Kynurenine pathway (KYNA, QUIN and PIC).

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Suicide, Attempted Suicidal Ideation Suicidal Intention Suicide

Interventions

Clinical assessments and blood samples; follow-up for 12 mosOTHER

Kiddie-Sads Present and Lifetime Version Diagnostic Interview, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (2nd Ed), Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, Life Events Checklist-5, Pubertal Development Scale. All assessments administered at baseline, and a smaller subset of assessments administered at discharge and other time points throughout 12 months follow-up. Blood samples taken at baseline (admission to unit) and day of discharge.

Clinical assessments and blood samples; no 12mo follow-upOTHER

Kiddie-Sads Present and Lifetime Version Diagnostic Interview, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (2nd Ed), Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, Life Events Checklist-5, Pubertal Development Scale. All assessments administered at baseline, and a smaller subset of assessments administered at discharge time point (5-7 days after baseline). Blood samples taken at baseline and discharge time points (5-7 days after baseline).

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 12 YearsMax age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: Suicide Attempt Study Group: * 12-18 years of age * admitted to the Cleveland Clinic inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry unit after suicidal ideations or a suicide attempt Healthy Control Group: * 12-18 years of age * No history of suicide attempt Exclusion Criteria: Suicide Attempt Study Group: * History of autism spectrum disorder * Non-verbal * Moderate or severe intellectual disability (IQ\<70 and patients in special education full-time) * Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder diagnosis * Current diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia * History of generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizures in last 3 months (If patient does not have a history of seizures, and generalized tonic-clonic seizure was clinically determined to be caused by patient's recent overdose attempt, patient can still be recruited for study if 24 hours has passed since last seizure) * History of traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, or any major neurological disorder * Delirium or mood disorder secondary to general medical condition * Current infection, fever, antibiotic use in the last 2 weeks * History of autoimmune or immunodeficiency diseases * Current untreated major endocrine disorder * Current pregnancy or delivery within the last month * Diagnosed malnutrition * Positive urine toxicology for benzodiazepines or opiates on admission * Current substance use disorder diagnosis and referral for CD assessment upon discharge * Current diagnosis of morbid obesity or a current BMI greater than 40 kg/m2 * Abnormal complete blood count (CBC) Healthy Control Group: * History of any psychiatric diagnosis / treatment (behavioral diagnoses \[ADD/ADHD/etc\] are okay) * History of suicidal ideation, behavior, or attempt * Family history of suicide attempts * Diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in parents or siblings * History of autism spectrum disorder * Moderate or severe intellectual disability (IQ\<70 and patients in special education full-time) * History of generalized tonic-clonic epileptic seizures in last 3 months * History of headaches or migraines in the last month * History of traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, or any major neurological disorder * Delirium or mood disorder secondary to general medical condition * Current infection, fever, antibiotic use in the last 2 weeks * History of autoimmune or immunodeficiency diseases * Current untreated major endocrine disorder * Current pregnancy or delivery within the last month * Diagnosed malnutrition * Report of any substance use in week prior

Locations (1)

The Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and suicide attempt

Comparison of the levels of peripheral inflammatory markers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) between participants with and without suicide attempt

Time frame: baseline

Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and suicide attempt

Comparison of the levels of peripheral inflammatory markers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) between participants with and without suicide attempt

Time frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Secondary Outcomes

Change from baseline in peripheral inflammatory marker levels for healthy control group

Comparison of the levels of peripheral inflammatory markers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) between baseline and discharge time points

Time frame: baseline and on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Change from baseline in peripheral inflammatory marker levels for suicide attempt study group

Comparison of the levels of peripheral inflammatory markers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) between baseline and discharge time points

Time frame: baseline and on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale scores

Studying relation between inflammatory biomarkers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) and suicide ideation intensity (scores on Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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Time frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire scores

Studying relation between inflammatory biomarkers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) and suicide ideation intensity (Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire)

Time frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and depression

Studying relation between inflammatory biomarkers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) and depression (scores on Children's Depression Rating Scale, Revised)

Time frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and anxiety

Studying relation between inflammatory biomarkers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) and anxiety (scores on Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, 2nd Ed)

Time frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and trauma

Studying relation between inflammatory biomarkers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) and trauma (scores on Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE) and Life Events Checklist-5 (LEC-5))

Time frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Changes in peripheral inflammatory marker levels predicting changes in Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale scores

Peripheral inflammatory markers: S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid

Time frame: baseline and on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Changes in peripheral inflammatory marker levels predicting changes in Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire scores

Peripheral inflammatory markers: S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid

Time frame: baseline and on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Peripheral inflammatory markers as a risk factor for suicide attempts

Studying inflammatory biomarkers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) as suicide attempt risk factors (frequency of attempts)