Reduced dopamine function in depressed patients is related to suicidal behavior but not its lethality

PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY

卷:26

Article

Pitchot, W ; Hansenne, M ; Moreno, AG ; Pinto, E ; Reggers, J ; Fuchs, S ; Pirard, S ; Ansseau, M

关键词: depression;    suicide attempt;    dopamine;    D2 receptors;    neuroendocrine test;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0306-4530(01)00021-X

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Several lines of evidence suggest a role for dopamine in the control of suicidal behaviour. Previously, we suggested an involvement of D2-dopaminergic function in the biology of suicide by demonstrating a smaller growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine, a dopaminergic agonist, in depressed patients who later died by suicide. The purpose of the present study was to assess GH response to apomorphine in major depressed in-patients with a history of highly lethal suicide attempt compared to depressed patients with a low lethal lifetime suicide attempt history and non-attempters. The study was performed in a sample of 26 male depressed in-patients with a history of suicide attempt compared to 26 male depressed non-attempters. We observed a significant difference between suicide attempters and non-attempters (for GH peak, 6.3 +/-5.1 ng/ml vs 15.8 +/- 14.2 ng/ml, F=10.3, df=1, 50, P=0.002). Moreover, GH peak responses to apomorphine did not differ between depressed patients with a high lethal lifetime suicide attempt history and patients who made low lethal lifetime suicide attempt. In conclusion, the results of the present study support a role for dopamine in the biology of suicidal behaviour. More specifically, an impaired GH response to apomorphine could be a marker of suicide risk. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

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