The norepinephrine-to-epinephrine ratio in patients with a history of suicide attempts.
Norepinephrine and epinephrine were measured serially in 24-hour urine collections from 99 male psychiatric inpatients with mixed diagnoses. The group was blindly divided into those with a previous history of at least one suicide attempt (N = 38) and those without such a history (N = 61). The ratio of norepinephrine-to-epinephrine levels was significantly lower in the group with a history of suicide attempts. The authors discuss the possibility that a low norepinephrine-to-epinephrine ratio is a risk factor for suicidal behavior.
D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000652:urine*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine*; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine