Suicide Risk Biomarkers Phenotype

The purpose of this study was to determine if methylation of blood DNA predicted whether an individual would attempt suicide. It was not known if blood contained epigenetic biomarkers that were reliable predictors of attempting suicide. This work was an evaluation of quantitative methods and machine learning models in a correlational predictive design.The first step of the study was an evaluation to determine to what extent measurements ofthe methylation of blood DNA contributed to accurately predicting whether an individual had attempted suicide. The second step was an evaluation to determine if an association existed between those methylations that supported acceptable predictions and life stresses the individual had experienced.