Epigenetics and vulnerability to suicide: how traumatic experiences in childhood affect the expression of genes related to mental health.

Abstract

The present work will be a review of the scope of the literature, based on the flowchart and elaboration of the protocol of the recommendations of the JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute), using the Checklist Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA- ScR) (PAGE et al., 2021; PETERS et al., 2020). The studies included in the scope review will be listed according to the strategy - Population, Concept and Context (PCC), as recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) protocol. In this scope review, it will be population, individuals who suffered adversities in childhood, such as abuse, neglect or violence, the concept of interest: epigenetics and suicidal behavior and the context to be analyzed is any situation in which these individuals were inserted, such as school, family or community. Thus, the review will be guided by the following question: What is the intersection between childhood adversities, epigenetics and suicidal behavior? The descriptors were selected according to the Descriptors in Health Sciences (DeCS) and the Medical Subject Headings (MESH), in order to adapt to the Portuguese and English languages, namely: As descriptors were used: “epigenetics” “suicide”, “Adverse Childhood Experiences”. Studies with full text available and free access will be considered eligible to compose the research, the studies will address the three main concepts of the question: adversities in childhood, epigenetics and suicidal behavior. Childhood adversities can include physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, domestic or family violence. Contextualizing that suicidal behavior can encompass ideation, planning, threat, attempted or completed suicid