Brain mapping in suicidal and non-suicidal depressives

ABSTRACT

Reports and experience reveal the fact that 15% of major depressive patients will commit suicide. Do those suicidal depressives constitute a special sub-group of depressives? Can we predict by some markers those with high suicidal risk? CT findings, neuropsychological testing and EEC showed abnormalities in a sub-group of depressives. Previous findings have reported a low 5 HIAA of the CSF of suicidal or violent patients. Through BEAM studies, previous authors have attempted to separate paranoid and non-paranoid depressives and depersonalized and non-depersonalized depressives. This study is an attempt to differentiate between high risk suicidal and non-suicidal depressives through BEAM. Our study showed encouraging results in that, with more cases, more modifications and more statistical analysis regarding amplitude, power and distribution, we can develop a possible neurophysiological marker for high risk suicidal depressives thus giving better prophylaxis and caution. Our findings showed that 64% of suicidal depressives show the right parieto-occipital dysfunction seen in the non-suicidal depressives with temporal extension