title: Red-cell and serum folate levels in depressed inpatients who commit violent suicide: a comparison with control groups.
abstract: There has been some discussion in the recent literature regarding the possible relationship between peripheral levels of folate and serotonin deficiency in the CNS. At the same time, such a serotonin deficiency has been implicated in the biology of suicidal behavior. Thus, decreased peripheral folate levels may be expected in patients who commit violent suicide. In this study, the red-cell and serum folate levels in nine persons who later committed suicide are compared with those in age- and sex-matched control groups. A one-way analysis of variance showed no significant difference between the groups.
authors.affiliation: Weissenau State Mental Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolfersdorf
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fröscher
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Kaschka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid