REVIEW article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Psychopathology
The Prospect of Suicide Biomarkers: From Neurobiology to Precision Prevention
Na Ren 1
Siqian Zheng 1
Yixin Zhou 1
Zhang Xiaoling 2
Mini Han Wang 3
Ying Bian 1
1. University of Macau Institute of Chinese Medical Science, Taipa, Macao, SAR China
2. Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai, China
3. The Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR China
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Abstract
Suicide remains a global public health crisis, accounting for over 720,000 deaths annually. Despite progress in identifying risk factors and developing theoretical frameworks, suicide continues to be a complex biopsychosocial phenomenon that eludes comprehensive understanding. This review synthesizes current evidence on the neurobiological underpinnings of suicidal behavior, encompassing genetic and epigenetic vulnerabilities, systemic physiological dysregulations, and structural and functional brain alterations. Furthermore, it critically evaluates recent advances in biologically-targeted interventions and assesses the translational potential of biomarker research for precision psychiatry. While these developments provide promising avenues for objective risk stratification and targeted treatments, significant challenges persist in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and clinical implementation. By integrating evidence across these disciplines, this review aims to provide clinicians and researchers with a comprehensive reference to inform clinical practice and guide future research directions.
Summary
Keywords
Genetic Susceptibility, intervention, Neurobiology, Neuroimaging, prevention, Suicide
Received
01 December 2025
Accepted
19 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Ren, Zheng, Zhou, Xiaoling, Wang and Bian. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Zhang Xiaoling; Mini Han Wang; Ying Bian
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.