Toward subtyping of suicidality: Brief suicidal ideation is associated with greater stress response

Background: Suicide is a heterogeneous phenomenon, and thus defining more homogeneous subgroups may help in understanding its underlying biology and ultimately in its prevention. Suicidal ideation is far more common than suicidal behavior and predicts future suicide attempts. Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)-axis reactivity has been implicated in individuals with suicidal ideation but findings are mixed with some studies showing increased and others demonstrating decreased reactivity. This suggests that dysregulation of HPA-axis is related to a specific character of suicidal ideation. We hypothesized that individuals with brief suicidal ideation are more stress responsive than those with longer/continuous ideation. Methods: Thirty-five individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 23 healthy volunteers (HVs), aged 18–65 years, underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Salivary cortisol was measured at 6 time-points before and during TSST. Total severity and duration of current suicidal ideation were assessed using the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI). Brief suicidal ideators (N = 18), longer/continuous ideators (N = 17) and HVs were compared regarding cortisol response, baseline cortisol and total output. Results: Participants with brief suicidal ideation had greater cortisol response compared to those with longer/continuous ideation and HVs, even after controlling for relevant covariates. However, total SSI score was not associated with cortisol response. Baseline cortisol and total output were not related to overall severity or duration of suicidal ideation. Limitations: The cross-sectional design and modest sample limit generalizability of the results. Conclusions: Hyper-responsiveness of HPA-axis to social stress is associated with brief suicidal ideation, possibly defining a pathway for exploring the biological subtyping of suicidal individuals.