Seasonal rhythm of platelet [3H]imipramine binding in adolescents who attempted suicide.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to determine the seasonality of serotonin functions among adolescents who attempt suicide.


METHODS
Platelet [3H]imipramine binding was assessed over a period of 18 months in 98 adolescents who attempted suicide and a comparison group of 23 never-suicidal youths with conduct disorder.


RESULTS
[3H]Imipramine (Bmax) was uncorrelated with age, but showed considerable seasonal variability over time in those who had attempted suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
[3H]Imipramine binding density in adolescents who attempted suicide exhibited significant seasonality, reaching a nadir in late winter/early spring.
Pine
D S
DS
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Trautman
P D
PD
Shaffer
D
D
Cohen
L
L
Davies
M
M
Stanley
M
M
Parsons
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D012701:Serotonin; D007099:Imipramine