Relationship between alpha 2-adrenergic function and suicidal behavior in depressed patients.
The current main neurochemical theories of the biological correlates of suicidal behavior involve serotonergic and, to a lesser extent, dopaminergic systems. Few data are available about the possible implication of the noradrenergic function. In the present study, we assessed the growth hormone response to clonidine, a selective alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, in 15 DSM-III-R major depressive inpatients with a history of suicide attempts, compared with 15 age- and gender-matched major depressive inpatients without a history of suicidal behavior. Mean (+/- SD) growth hormone peak responses to clonidine were significantly lower in the group of suicide attempters than in the control group: 2.93 +/- 3.01 ng/ml vs. 8.28 +/- 8.15 ng/ml. Therefore, these results suggest that a blunted growth hormone response to clonidine could be a biological correlate of suicidal behavior.
Psychiatric Unit, University Hospital Center of Liège, Belgium.
W
W
Pitchot
M
M
Ansseau
A
A
Gonzalez Moreno
J
J
Wauthy
M
M
Hansenne
R
R
von Frenckell
D000328:Adult; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine