Biomarkers as Predictors of Suicidal Risk in Adolescents

July 15, 2021 updated by: Tatiana Falcone, MD, The Cleveland Clinic

Peripheral Neuroinflammatory Predictors of Suicidal Risk at Time of Inpatient Discharge in Adolescents

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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

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 (Actual)

80

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
        • The Cleveland Clinic

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

12 years to 18 years (ADULT, CHILD)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The suicide attempt study group will be recruited from all patients (ages 12-18 years) admitted to the Cleveland Clinic inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry unit after a suicide attempt. Healthy adolescent control group (ages 12-18 years) will be recruited through the Cleveland Clinic pediatric outpatient offices.

Description

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Suicide Attempt Study Group
Adolescents admitted to the Cleveland Clinic inpatient child and adolescent psychiatry unit after suicide attempt. Clinical assessments and blood samples; follow-up for 12 mos.
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.
Healthy Control Group
Healthy adolescents with no history of suicide attempt. Clinical assessments and blood samples; no 12mo follow-up.
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).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and suicide attempt
Time Frame: baseline
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
baseline
Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and suicide attempt
Time Frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
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
on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from baseline in peripheral inflammatory marker levels for healthy control group
Time Frame: baseline and on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
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
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
Time Frame: baseline and on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
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
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
Time Frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
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)
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
Time Frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
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)
on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and depression
Time Frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
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)
on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and anxiety
Time Frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
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)
on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
Relation between levels of peripheral inflammatory markers and trauma
Time Frame: on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
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))
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
Time Frame: baseline and on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
Peripheral inflammatory markers: S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid
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
Time Frame: baseline and on the date of discharge from hospital inpatient unit (average length of admission = 5 days)
Peripheral inflammatory markers: S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid
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
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
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)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Peripheral inflammatory markers as a risk factor for suicide ideation intensity (scores on Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying inflammatory biomarkers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) as suicide ideation intensity risk factors (scores on Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Peripheral inflammatory markers as a risk factor for suicide ideation intensity (scores on Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire)
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying inflammatory biomarkers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) as suicide ideation intensity risk factors (scores on Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Peripheral inflammatory markers as a risk factor for suicide attempt re-admission
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying inflammatory biomarkers (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) as suicide attempt re-admission risk factors (frequency of re-admissions)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Change in peripheral inflammatory marker levels from baseline to discharge as a risk factor for suicide attempts
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying the change in inflammatory biomarkers from baseline to discharge (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) as suicide attempt risk factors (frequency of attempts)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Change in peripheral inflammatory marker levels from baseline to discharge as a risk factor for suicide ideation intensity (scores on Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying the change in inflammatory biomarkers from baseline to discharge (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) as suicide ideation intensity risk factors (scores on Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Change in peripheral inflammatory marker levels from baseline to discharge as a risk factor for suicide ideation intensity (scores on Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire)
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying the change in inflammatory biomarkers from baseline to discharge (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) as suicide ideation intensity risk factors (scores on Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Change in peripheral inflammatory marker levels from baseline to discharge as a risk factor for suicide attempt re-admission
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying the change in inflammatory biomarkers from baseline to discharge (S100B, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, kynurenic acid, quinolinic acid, and picolinic acid) as suicide attempt re-admission risk factors (frequency of re-admissions)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Clinical assessment values that predict suicide attempts
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying which clinical assessments can help predict suicide attempt (frequency of attempts)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Clinical assessment values that predict suicide ideation intensity scores on Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying which clinical assessments can help predict suicide ideation intensity scores on Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
up to 12 months post-discharge
Clinical assessment values that predict suicide ideation intensity scores on Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying which clinical assessments can help predict suicide ideation intensity scores on Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire
up to 12 months post-discharge
Clinical assessment values that predict suicide attempt re-admission
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying which clinical assessments can help predict suicide attempt re-admission (frequency of re-admissions)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Peripheral inflammatory markers in combination with clinical assessments as predictors for suicide attempts
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying which combination of inflammatory biomarkers and clinical predictors best predicts future suicide attempts (frequency of attempts)
up to 12 months post-discharge
Peripheral inflammatory markers in combination with clinical assessments as predictors for suicide ideation intensity scores on Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying which combination of inflammatory biomarkers and clinical predictors best predicts suicide ideation intensity scores on Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
up to 12 months post-discharge
Peripheral inflammatory markers in combination with clinical assessments as predictors for suicide ideation intensity scores on Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying which combination of inflammatory biomarkers and clinical predictors best predicts suicide ideation intensity scores on Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire
up to 12 months post-discharge
Peripheral inflammatory markers in combination with clinical assessments as predictors for suicide attempt re-admission
Time Frame: up to 12 months post-discharge
Studying which combination of inflammatory biomarkers and clinical predictors best predicts future suicide attempt re-admissions (frequency of re-admissions)
up to 12 months post-discharge

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Collaborators

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (ACTUAL)

December 1, 2016

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

June 28, 2021

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

June 28, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 15, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 5, 2017

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

January 9, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

July 16, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 15, 2021

Last Verified

July 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 16-630
  • MH108857 (OTHER_GRANT: NIMH)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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