Suicide prevention for major depressive disorder (MDD) is a worldwide challenge, especially for suicide attempt (SA). Viewing suicide as a state rather than a lifetime event provided new perspectives on suicide research.

This study aimed to verify and complement SAs biomarkers of MDD with a recent SA sample.

This study included 189 participants (60 healthy controls; 47 MDD patients with non-suicide (MDD-NSs), 40 MDD patients with suicide ideation (MDD-SIs) and 42 MDD patients with SA (MDD-SAs)). MDD patients with an acute SA time was determined to be within 1 week since the last SA. SUICIDALITY Part in MINI was applied to evaluate suicidality. Absolute powers in 14 frequency bands were extracted from subject’s resting-state electroencephalography data and compared within four groups. The relationship among suicidality, the number of SA and powers in significant frequency bands were investigated.

MDD-SIs had increased powers in delta, theta, alpha and beta band on the right frontocentral channels compared to MDD-NSs, while MDD-SAs had decreased powers in delta, beta and gamma bands on widely the right frontocentral and parietooccipital channels compared to MDD-SIs. Beta 1 power was the lowest in MDD-SAs and was modulated by the number of SA. The correlation between suicidality and beta 1 power was negative in MDD-SAs and positive in MDD-SIs.

Reduced beta 1 (12–15 Hz) power could be essential in promoting suicidal behaviour in MDD. Research on recent SA samples contributes to a better understanding of suicide mechanisms and preventing suicidal behaviour in MDD.