Telomeres are shorter and associated with number of suicide attempts in affective disorders

Viktoria Birkenæs; Torbjørn Elvsåshagen; Lars T Westlye; Margrethe C Høegh; Marit Haram; Maren C F Werner; Daniel S Quintana; Synve H Lunding; Carmen Martin-Ruiz; Ingrid Agartz; Srdjan Djurovic; Nils Eiel Steen; Ole A Andreassen; Monica Aas

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.135

Telomeres are shorter and associated with number of suicide attempts in affective disorders

Viktoria Birkenæs, Torbjørn Elvsåshagen, Lars T Westlye, Margrethe C Høegh, Marit Haram, Maren C F Werner, Daniel S Quintana, Synve H Lunding, Carmen Martin-Ruiz, Ingrid Agartz, Srdjan Djurovic, Nils Eiel Steen, Ole A Andreassen, Monica Aas

Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry

1] NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway [2] Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway [3] Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Centre for Pain Research, University of Bath, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Department of Anaesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, and University College London Hospitals, and Psychology Department, Kings College London.
MRC Biostatistics Unit University of Cambridge Cambridge UK; Population Health Sciences Institute Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne UK
KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Shorter telomere length is a putative biomarker of accelerated aging and has been associated with affective disorders and mortality. Psychological factors and behaviors associated with telomere shortening are yet to be clarified. Here, we investigate the association between history of suicide attempts and telomere length in patients with affective disorders.

METHODS: Leucocyte telomere length was determined by quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) in patients with affective disorders (n = 248) including bipolar disorders type I (n = 159), type II (n = 67), major depressive disorder (n = 22), and healthy controls (n = 401). Diagnosis, duration of illness, and age at onset were assessed using the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I). Number of lifetime suicide attempts were based on self-reports. Effect size was calculated using Cohen's d.

RESULTS: Telomere length was reduced in patients with affective disorders relative to healthy controls (d = 0.18, F = 5.26, p = 0.02). Among patients, a higher number of suicide attempts was associated with shorter telomere length (β = -0.24, t = -3.83, CI = -0.44 to -0.14, p < 0.001), also when controlling for duration of illness and age at onset (β = -.23, CI = -.42 to -.12, p = 0.001). Multiple suicide attempts were associated with telomere length reduction comparable to eight years lifespan, adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS: While longitudinal data are needed to clarify the temporal course, previous suicide attempts and related distress may accelerate telomere shortening and aging in patients with affective disorders.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1032-1039
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume	295
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.135
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2021

Keywords

Depressive Disorder, Major/epidemiology
Humans
Mood Disorders/epidemiology
Suicide, Attempted
Telomere/genetics
Telomere Shortening/genetics

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.135

Cite this

Birkenæs, V., Elvsåshagen, T., Westlye, L. T., Høegh, M. C., Haram, M., Werner, M. C. F., Quintana, D. S., Lunding, S. H., Martin-Ruiz, C., Agartz, I., Djurovic, S., Steen, N. E., Andreassen, O. A., & Aas, M. (2021). Telomeres are shorter and associated with number of suicide attempts in affective disorders. Journal of Affective Disorders, 295, 1032-1039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.135

@article{c84104e0dcbf4646810b175890ba33f8,

title = "Telomeres are shorter and associated with number of suicide attempts in affective disorders",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Shorter telomere length is a putative biomarker of accelerated aging and has been associated with affective disorders and mortality. Psychological factors and behaviors associated with telomere shortening are yet to be clarified. Here, we investigate the association between history of suicide attempts and telomere length in patients with affective disorders.METHODS: Leucocyte telomere length was determined by quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) in patients with affective disorders (n = 248) including bipolar disorders type I (n = 159), type II (n = 67), major depressive disorder (n = 22), and healthy controls (n = 401). Diagnosis, duration of illness, and age at onset were assessed using the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I). Number of lifetime suicide attempts were based on self-reports. Effect size was calculated using Cohen's d.RESULTS: Telomere length was reduced in patients with affective disorders relative to healthy controls (d = 0.18, F = 5.26, p = 0.02). Among patients, a higher number of suicide attempts was associated with shorter telomere length (β = -0.24, t = -3.83, CI = -0.44 to -0.14, p < 0.001), also when controlling for duration of illness and age at onset (β = -.23, CI = -.42 to -.12, p = 0.001). Multiple suicide attempts were associated with telomere length reduction comparable to eight years lifespan, adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics.CONCLUSIONS: While longitudinal data are needed to clarify the temporal course, previous suicide attempts and related distress may accelerate telomere shortening and aging in patients with affective disorders.",

keywords = "Depressive Disorder, Major/epidemiology, Humans, Mood Disorders/epidemiology, Suicide, Attempted, Telomere/genetics, Telomere Shortening/genetics",

author = "Viktoria Birken{\ae}s and Torbj{\o}rn Elvs{\aa}shagen and Westlye, {Lars T} and H{\o}egh, {Margrethe C} and Marit Haram and Werner, {Maren C F} and Quintana, {Daniel S} and Lunding, {Synve H} and Carmen Martin-Ruiz and Ingrid Agartz and Srdjan Djurovic and Steen, {Nils Eiel} and Andreassen, {Ole A} and Monica Aas",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2021",

month = dec,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.135",

language = "English",

volume = "295",

pages = "1032--1039",

journal = "Journal of Affective Disorders",

issn = "0165-0327",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

Birkenæs, V, Elvsåshagen, T, Westlye, LT, Høegh, MC, Haram, M, Werner, MCF, Quintana, DS, Lunding, SH, Martin-Ruiz, C, Agartz, I, Djurovic, S, Steen, NE, Andreassen, OA & Aas, M 2021, 'Telomeres are shorter and associated with number of suicide attempts in affective disorders', Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 295, pp. 1032-1039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.135

TY - JOUR

T1 - Telomeres are shorter and associated with number of suicide attempts in affective disorders

AU - Birkenæs, Viktoria

AU - Elvsåshagen, Torbjørn

AU - Westlye, Lars T

AU - Høegh, Margrethe C

AU - Haram, Marit

AU - Werner, Maren C F

AU - Quintana, Daniel S

AU - Lunding, Synve H

AU - Martin-Ruiz, Carmen

AU - Agartz, Ingrid

AU - Djurovic, Srdjan

AU - Steen, Nils Eiel

AU - Andreassen, Ole A

AU - Aas, Monica

PY - 2021/12/1

Y1 - 2021/12/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Shorter telomere length is a putative biomarker of accelerated aging and has been associated with affective disorders and mortality. Psychological factors and behaviors associated with telomere shortening are yet to be clarified. Here, we investigate the association between history of suicide attempts and telomere length in patients with affective disorders.METHODS: Leucocyte telomere length was determined by quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) in patients with affective disorders (n = 248) including bipolar disorders type I (n = 159), type II (n = 67), major depressive disorder (n = 22), and healthy controls (n = 401). Diagnosis, duration of illness, and age at onset were assessed using the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I). Number of lifetime suicide attempts were based on self-reports. Effect size was calculated using Cohen's d.RESULTS: Telomere length was reduced in patients with affective disorders relative to healthy controls (d = 0.18, F = 5.26, p = 0.02). Among patients, a higher number of suicide attempts was associated with shorter telomere length (β = -0.24, t = -3.83, CI = -0.44 to -0.14, p < 0.001), also when controlling for duration of illness and age at onset (β = -.23, CI = -.42 to -.12, p = 0.001). Multiple suicide attempts were associated with telomere length reduction comparable to eight years lifespan, adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics.CONCLUSIONS: While longitudinal data are needed to clarify the temporal course, previous suicide attempts and related distress may accelerate telomere shortening and aging in patients with affective disorders.

AB - BACKGROUND: Shorter telomere length is a putative biomarker of accelerated aging and has been associated with affective disorders and mortality. Psychological factors and behaviors associated with telomere shortening are yet to be clarified. Here, we investigate the association between history of suicide attempts and telomere length in patients with affective disorders.METHODS: Leucocyte telomere length was determined by quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) in patients with affective disorders (n = 248) including bipolar disorders type I (n = 159), type II (n = 67), major depressive disorder (n = 22), and healthy controls (n = 401). Diagnosis, duration of illness, and age at onset were assessed using the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I). Number of lifetime suicide attempts were based on self-reports. Effect size was calculated using Cohen's d.RESULTS: Telomere length was reduced in patients with affective disorders relative to healthy controls (d = 0.18, F = 5.26, p = 0.02). Among patients, a higher number of suicide attempts was associated with shorter telomere length (β = -0.24, t = -3.83, CI = -0.44 to -0.14, p < 0.001), also when controlling for duration of illness and age at onset (β = -.23, CI = -.42 to -.12, p = 0.001). Multiple suicide attempts were associated with telomere length reduction comparable to eight years lifespan, adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics.CONCLUSIONS: While longitudinal data are needed to clarify the temporal course, previous suicide attempts and related distress may accelerate telomere shortening and aging in patients with affective disorders.

KW - Depressive Disorder, Major/epidemiology

KW - Humans

KW - Mood Disorders/epidemiology

KW - Suicide, Attempted

KW - Telomere/genetics

KW - Telomere Shortening/genetics

U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.135

DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.135

M3 - Article

C2 - 34706411

SN - 0165-0327

VL - 295

SP - 1032

EP - 1039

JO - Journal of Affective Disorders

JF - Journal of Affective Disorders

ER -

Telomeres are shorter and associated with number of suicide attempts in affective disorders

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this