The term suicidal behavior (SB) refers to a heterogeneous outcome of suicide attempts and suicide completions.2 Support for SB as an entity is multifold. Although it is well known that the nature of a suicidal act (suicide attempt or completed suicide) may be influenced by gender, age, availability of a lethal mean and specific suicidal dimensions, such as suicidal intent and medical lethality, these behaviors seem to have more in common and are often distinguished from another component of the suicidal process, namely, suicidal ideation. The clinical profiles of suicide attempters and completers overlap.3 In addition, previous suicide attempt is an important predictor of future suicide.4 Epidemiological genetics studies suggest that suicide attempts and completed suicides may share a common genetic basis.5 Furthermore, there is limited support that suicidal thoughts run in families, or that they are predictive of suicide attempts or completions within families.6 Finally, suicide attempts and suicide completions share many neurobiological correlates.7, 8
