Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites in alcoholic patients who attempt suicide.
Reduced cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid have been reported to be commonly associated with suicidal behaviour. Alcoholics are known to often manifest suicidal behaviour. Therefore, we compared cerebrospinal fluid levels of monoamine metabolites in alcoholics who had (n = 20) and had not (n = 108) attempted suicide and healthy volunteers (n = 30). There were no significant differences among the 3 groups for CSF levels of either 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid, norepinephrine, or the norepinephrine metabolite 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol.
Laboratory of Clinical Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland.
A
A
Roy
D
D
Lamparski
J
J
De Jong
B
B
Adinoff
B
B
Ravitz
D T
DT
George
D
D
Nutt
M
M
Linnoila
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid