Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) results from repetitive brain injuries and is a common neurotraumatic sequela in contact sports. CTE is often accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms, which could escalate to suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal behaviour (SB). Nevertheless, fairly limited emphasis about the association between suicidality and CTE exists in medical liter-ature. Here, we report two cases of retired professional athletes in high contact sports (boxing and ice hockey) who have developed similar clinical trajectories characterized by progressive neuro-psychiatric symptoms compatible with a CTE diagnosis and subsequent SB in its severe forms (medical serious suicide attempt (SA) and completed suicide). In addition to the description of outlining clinical, neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and differential diagnosis elements related to these cases, we also hypothesized some mechanisms that might augment the suicide risk in CTE. They include those related to neurobiological (neuroanatomic/neuroinflammatory) dysfunctions as well as those pertaining to psychiatry and psychosocial maladaptation to neurotraumas and re-tirement from professional competitive activity. Findings described here can provide clinical pic-tures to improve the identification of patients with CTE and also potential mechanistic insights to refine the knowledge of eventual severe SB development, which might enable its earlier preven-tion.

Severe suicidality in athletes with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. A case series and overview on putative ethiopathogenetic mechanisms / Costanza, A.; Radomska, M.; Zenga, F.; Amerio, A.; Aguglia, A.; Serafini, G.; Amore, M.; Berardelli, I.; Ojio, Y.; Nguyen, K. D.. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. - ISSN 1660-4601. - 18:3(2021), pp. 1-16. [10.3390/ijerph18030876]

Severe suicidality in athletes with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. A case series and overview on putative ethiopathogenetic mechanisms

Berardelli I.;
2021

Abstract

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) results from repetitive brain injuries and is a common neurotraumatic sequela in contact sports. CTE is often accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms, which could escalate to suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal behaviour (SB). Nevertheless, fairly limited emphasis about the association between suicidality and CTE exists in medical liter-ature. Here, we report two cases of retired professional athletes in high contact sports (boxing and ice hockey) who have developed similar clinical trajectories characterized by progressive neuro-psychiatric symptoms compatible with a CTE diagnosis and subsequent SB in its severe forms (medical serious suicide attempt (SA) and completed suicide). In addition to the description of outlining clinical, neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and differential diagnosis elements related to these cases, we also hypothesized some mechanisms that might augment the suicide risk in CTE. They include those related to neurobiological (neuroanatomic/neuroinflammatory) dysfunctions as well as those pertaining to psychiatry and psychosocial maladaptation to neurotraumas and re-tirement from professional competitive activity. Findings described here can provide clinical pic-tures to improve the identification of patients with CTE and also potential mechanistic insights to refine the knowledge of eventual severe SB development, which might enable its earlier preven-tion.
2021
chronic traumatic encephalopathy; contact sports; neuropsychiatric symptoms; suicidal behaviour; suicidal ideation; suicide; suicide attempt
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01i Case report
Severe suicidality in athletes with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. A case series and overview on putative ethiopathogenetic mechanisms / Costanza, A.; Radomska, M.; Zenga, F.; Amerio, A.; Aguglia, A.; Serafini, G.; Amore, M.; Berardelli, I.; Ojio, Y.; Nguyen, K. D.. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH. - ISSN 1660-4601. - 18:3(2021), pp. 1-16. [10.3390/ijerph18030876]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Costanza_Severe-Suicidality_2021.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 1.39 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.39 MB Adobe PDF

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1540790
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 5
  • Scopus 9
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 8
social impact