Basal Plasma Lithium Levels and Suicidal Events

This study is about understanding suicidal behaviour, which is a big concern for public health. Currently, there aren't specific treatments just for preventing suicidal thoughts or actions. However, we do know that lithium, a medicine often used for bipolar disorder, has been shown to be good at reducing the risk of suicide.

Now, it's not just about medication. Lithium is also found naturally in our environment, and the amount in our bodies can be different from person to person, often depending on what we eat. People with mood disorders sometimes have different eating habits than others, which might mean their natural lithium levels are also different. This study wants to explore if these natural lithium levels in people with depression (including those with bipolar disorder) are connected to whether they have experienced suicidal thoughts or attempts.

To do this, the study will compare a group of people with depression who have had suicidal thoughts or attempts in the past year, with another group of people with depression who haven't. Researchers will take a single blood sample from each participant to measure their natural lithium levels. They hope to find that higher natural lithium levels are linked to fewer suicidal events and less impulsiveness. This research could give us a better understanding of how lithium might protect against suicide and help create more effective ways to support people at risk.