A CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE ROLE OF THE GENETIC-FACTOR IN SUICIDE, BASED ON 5 STUDIES IN AN EPIDEMIOLOGICALLY DEFINED AREA (PROVINCE OF SALZBURG, AUSTRIA)

The question of what role genetic factors have in the transmission of suicidal behavior, in particular suicide itself, is discussed on the basis of five studies of an epidemiologically clearly defined region (the Province of Salzburg, Austria). The high percentage of suicide-positive family histories as compared with the literature is due to exceptionally good sources of information. It could be shown that in suicide cases also suffering from endogenous depression, both endogenous psychoses and suicides appeared to a greater extent in their families. However, in contrast to current assumptions, the suicide disposition is not just found in those with endogenous psychoses, but shows a separate genetic determination. The author concludes that the genetic factor in suicide research and in the evaluation of suicidality should be considered equally along with psychodynamic and sociodynamic factors. © 1990.