Research progress on whether BDNF can be used as a predictive biomarker for suicidal behavior

Abstract

In recent years, the serious social phenomenon of suicide has been of great concern to society and academia. However, the study and early risk assessment of suicide have been limited by multiple aspects. Therefore, researchers have started to search for a reliable marker for early diagnosis of suicide risk, and one of the widely studied neurotransmitters associated with suicide is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This review aims to summarize the current scientific knowledge on the relevance of BDNF and psychiatric disorders to suicide and to infer whether neurotrophic factors could be a reliable marker for early diagnosis of suicide risk. Based on the results of these studies, a link between BDNF and suicide may exist and act independently of mental illness. However, there is still controversy and further studies may provide researchers with useful information.

Keywords

brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) / psychiatric disorders / suicide