Projects / Programmes
Povezava genetskih, epigenetskih in fenotipskih značilnosti pri žrtvah samomora (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.09.00 |
Medical sciences |
Psychiatry |
|
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
27742 |
PhD Alja Videtič Paska |
Medical sciences |
Head |
2009 - 2011 |
220 |
Organisations (1)
Significance for science
Suicide represents a very interesting research topic, namely, it is a taboo topic that we know very little about and we talk about it even less. Beside that suicide is tightly interconnected with psychiatric disorders, which gives its study even more credit from both, basic and applicative research point of view.
Suicide is a complex phenomenon and therefore is the analysis from different angles necessary. Most studies so far have only focused on one risk factor for suicide. Global evaluation of risk factors and even more so of their interplay enables a holistic comprehension and treatment of suicidal behaviour. In comparison to today available studies that are limited only to the research of just one factor, present project means a step forward in the sense of combining and searching for an interplay of different factors in suicide: phenotype, genotype, and methylation patterns in association with psychological traits of an individual (aggression, impulsivity, ...). These comprehensive data form background for suicide expression, and also enable new, global insight into the risk factors for suicide. With analysis of the selected genetic polymorphisms and methylation patterns we are able to increase the number of candidate genes that are putatively responsible for suicide development and contribute new knowledge to the field of studying disease mechanism. With this work we help identifying new diagnostic and prognostic genome biomarkers.
The present research thus offers practical implications for preventive actions, although they have to be first supported by further research studies. A concerted study of many different risk factors is important in shaping of psychosocial and pharmacotherapeutic interventions that would be oriented to people with higher risk.
This will in turn lead to new knowledge on risk factors for suicidal behaviour and represent good basis for timely interventions and therapies. The latter is only possible when risk factors are being studied simultaneously, like they were in the present study.
Significance for the country
Slovenia is a country with one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Therefore is studying of suicide risk factors not only necessary, since it might benefit to the life standard of the citizens, but is also very informative.
New and global insight into risk factors for suicidal behaviour could enable timely intervention and prevention, and contribute to decrease the number of suicides in Slovenia. With timely identification of the individuals at risk their lifestyle improves, as well as the lifestyle of those indirectly involved (family, friends, acquaintances …). Results of the research project can contribute to a higher health level and lifestyle in Slovenia: better suicide prevention and more rationale psycho pharmacotherapy of mental disorders which increase risk for suicidal behaviour. Timely intervention and improved treatment replacing long-lasting curative and treatment could disburden the national health budget.
The knowledge acquired with our project has also sociological nature, since we tried to show suicide from different perspectives that are rarely viewed together. In other words, we tried to integrate suicide in different in different levels from research to clinical praxis. Therefore we showed broader professional and public society the role of genome and environment, bio-psycho-social model, and also scientific aims and personal experiences associated with study of suicide. With all these we enabled broader public to have at least partial insight into the role of research of suicide.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
