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Cortisol as a Potential Biomarker for Suicidality

Cortisol levels have been identified as one potential risk factor for suicide (O’Connor, 2016) because they have been linked to stress. Fearlessness, including impulsivity and risk taking, contribute to suicidality and cortisol may be a biomarker to aid in diagnosis. If cortisol calms fears (de Quervain et al., 2011), for at least part of the population, and, if fearlessness heightens impulsivity and risk taking as demonstrated by previous research (Smith, 2008) then cortisol may contribute to suicidality and suicide attempts. The purpose of this research is to clarify the relationship between fear, impulsivity, and risk and the role cortisol may play. Thirty males and 30 females completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (Patton, Stanford, & Barratt, 1995), Domain‐Specific Risk‐Taking Scale (Blais & Weber, 2006), Death Anxiety Scale (Templer, 2006), and Fear of Pain Questionnaire‐9 (McNeil & Rainwater, 1998). Cortisol is collected by swabbing the cheek and collecting saliva. The saliva samples were then kept in a −80° C freezer until tested using an ELISA detection technique. Preliminary results suggest levels of cortisol are negatively correlated with fear of death and fear of pain. Fearlessness is expected to be negatively correlated with impulsivity and risk taking, which, in turn, are expected to be positively correlated with each other and positively correlated with cortisol levels.