Featured Publications
Towards understanding and predicting suicidality in women: biomarkers and clinical risk assessment
Levey DF, Niculescu EM, Le-Niculescu H, Dainton HL, Phalen PL, Ladd TB, Weber H, Belanger E, Graham DL, Khan FN, Vanipenta NP, Stage EC, Ballew A, Yard M, Gelbart T, Shekhar A, Schork NJ, Kurian SM, Sandusky GE, Salomon DR, Niculescu AB. Towards understanding and predicting suicidality in women: biomarkers and clinical risk assessment. Molecular Psychiatry 2016, 21: 768-785. PMID: 27046645, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.31.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFuture hospitalizationConvergent functional genomics approachSuicide completersPrimary end pointSingle blood biomarkerTop biomarkersReceiver-operating characteristic areaRisk prediction scoreClinical risk assessmentDisorder participantsIndependent test cohortForm of APPProphylactic benefitNeurotrophic effectsBlood biomarkersSleep abnormalitiesPsychiatric hospitalizationHospitalizationMood disordersTest cohortCandidate biomarkersSuicide completionSuicidal ideationDrug lithiumChronic stress
2021
Psychosocial moderators of polygenic risk for suicidal ideation: Results from a 7-year population-based, prospective cohort study of U.S. veterans
Na PJ, De Angelis F, Nichter B, Wendt FR, Krystal JH, Southwick SM, Levey DF, Gelernter J, Polimanti R, Pietrzak RH. Psychosocial moderators of polygenic risk for suicidal ideation: Results from a 7-year population-based, prospective cohort study of U.S. veterans. Molecular Psychiatry 2021, 27: 1068-1074. PMID: 34725455, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01352-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNew-onset suicidal ideationChronic suicidal ideationPolygenic risk scoresSuicidal ideationProspective cohort studyPolygenic riskRisk of SIHigher baseline levelsHigh polygenic riskModifiable psychosocial factorsSocial supportDispositional optimismCohort studyProspective cohortUS veteransSymptomatic courseRisk scorePsychosocial factorsGenome-wide association studiesBaseline levelsU.S. veteransSuicidal thoughtsPsychosocial moderatorsStudy periodLarge genome-wide association studiesMulti-environment gene interactions linked to the interplay between polysubstance dependence and suicidality
Polimanti R, Levey DF, Pathak GA, Wendt FR, Nunez YZ, Ursano RJ, Kessler RC, Kranzler HR, Stein MB, Gelernter J. Multi-environment gene interactions linked to the interplay between polysubstance dependence and suicidality. Translational Psychiatry 2021, 11: 34. PMID: 33431810, PMCID: PMC7801457, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01153-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSuicidal ideationPolysubstance dependenceSuicide attemptsOdds ratioGene-environment interactionsYale-PennMultivariate logistic regressionImportant risk factorMultivariate gene-environment interactionsMental health risksOpioid dependenceRisk factorsNicotine dependenceSuicidality outcomesCocaine dependenceLogistic regressionSubstance dependenceSuicidalityCohortLifetime suicidalityLinear mixed modelsMultiple substancesArmy STARRSArmy personnelHealth risks
2017
Precision medicine for suicidality: from universality to subtypes and personalization
Niculescu A, Le-Niculescu H, Levey D, Phalen P, Dainton H, Roseberry K, Niculescu E, Niezer J, Williams A, Graham D, Jones T, Venugopal V, Ballew A, Yard M, Gelbart T, Kurian S, Shekhar A, Schork N, Sandusky G, Salomon D. Precision medicine for suicidality: from universality to subtypes and personalization. Molecular Psychiatry 2017, 22: 1250-1273. PMID: 28809398, PMCID: PMC5582166, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.128.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSuicidal ideationIndependent cohortPersonalized approachFuture hospitalizationPsychiatric diagnosisCandidate biomarkersUniversal biomarkerBlood gene expression biomarkersBiology of suicideTop biomarkersNovel predictive biomarkerHigh-risk groupNon-psychiatric disordersDrug repurposing analysisPublic health problemMonitoring of responseNovel potential therapeuticsHigher suicidal ideationPredictive biomarkersClinical trialsComprehensive stepwise approachRisk groupsLarge cohortMood disordersPreventive therapeutics
2015
Understanding and predicting suicidality using a combined genomic and clinical risk assessment approach
Niculescu AB, Levey DF, Phalen PL, Le-Niculescu H, Dainton HD, Jain N, Belanger E, James A, George S, Weber H, Graham DL, Schweitzer R, Ladd TB, Learman R, Niculescu EM, Vanipenta NP, Khan FN, Mullen J, Shankar G, Cook S, Humbert C, Ballew A, Yard M, Gelbart T, Shekhar A, Schork NJ, Kurian SM, Sandusky GE, Salomon DR. Understanding and predicting suicidality using a combined genomic and clinical risk assessment approach. Molecular Psychiatry 2015, 20: 1266-1285. PMID: 26283638, PMCID: PMC4759104, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.112.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFuture hospitalizationPsychiatric diagnosisSuicidal ideationCandidate biomarkersBipolar disorderPsychiatric participantsBlood gene expression biomarkersSuicidal behaviorConvergent functional genomics approachSuicide completersPreventive lifestyle modificationsTop candidate biomarkersTop biomarkersAcute panic attacksPotential therapeutic targetBipolar disorder participantsMajor psychiatric disordersIndependent test cohortSuicide risk factorsThoughts of suicideLifestyle modificationAcute suicidalityRisk factorsInflammatory responsePsychological stress responses