Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites and suicidal behavior in depressed patients. A 5-year follow-up study.
We carried out a 5-year follow-up study of suicidal behavior among depressed patients who earlier had determinations of cerebrospinal fluid levels of monoamine metabolites. Patients who reattempted suicide during the follow-up had significantly lower cerebrospinal fluid levels of both the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid. The findings were most striking among melancholic patients. These follow-up results suggest that reduced central turnover of serotonin and dopamine may be associated with further suicidal behavior among depressed patients who have previously attempted suicide.
Roy
A
A
Division of Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Md 20892.
De Jong
J
J
Linnoila
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000523:psychology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence
D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid