Neuroendocrine risk factors of suicidal behavior.
Three of 22 subjects in a study of neuroendocrine correlates of clinical change made serious suicide attempts, 2 of which were lethal. The suicidal subjects had significantly higher 24-hour urinary cortisol levels and significantly lower 24-hour urinary norepinephrine-to-epinephrine ratios than the nonsuicidal patients had. Although the cortisol finding confirms earlier reports, the norepinephrine-to-epinephrine ratio finding is new. The results support the concept that the clinical utility of neuroendocrine measures is enhanced by using a multihormonal profile.
D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000652:urine; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000652:urine*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine*; D012306:Risk; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control
D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine