Answer to Question 1
Caspi's work focused on the 5-HTT transporter gene, which has been studied because several drugs that are used to treat depression have a direct impact on this particular neurotransmitter. There are two alleles or different versions of this gene, one of which is shorter and is associated with reduced efficiency of neural transmission in serotonin pathways. Individuals who inherit this short allele or version of the gene are at particularly high risk for becoming clinically depressed if they experience stressful life events. In the absence of increased stress, the presence of this gene does not increase the person's risk for depression. Both factors seem to be necessary.
Answer to Question 2
(1) reduce the lethality: reduce psychological pain and reduce access to means of committing suicide; (2) negotiate agreements: ask the client to sign a contract agreeing to postpone self-destructive behavior for at least a short period of time, include an agreement that the client will contact the therapist directly before engaging in any lethal actions; (3) provide support: make concrete arrangements for social support, alert friends and family members to be available; (4) replace tunnel vision with a broader perspective: suicidal individuals are often unable to consider alternative solutions for their problems; help clients to use a more flexible and adaptive pattern of problem solving to replace death as the only solution.
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