title: Cerebrospinal fluid amines and higher-lethality suicide attempts in depressed inpatients.
abstract: Previous studies have found that not all suicide attempters with major depression have reduced serotonergic activity based on low cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (CSF- 5-HIAA) levels. In this study we hypothesized that serotonergic function is lower in depressed patients who have carried out high-lethality suicide attempts resulting in more medical damage, which might explain differences in serotonergic activity among depressed suicide attempters. We assessed the relationship of CSF 5-HIAA and other amine metabolites to the most lethal lifetime suicide attempt in 22 drug-free inpatients with major depression. CSF 5-HIAA levels were lower in depressed patients with a history of a high-lethality or well-planned suicide attempt compared to depressed patients with a history of only low-lethality suicide attempt(s). Other CSF monoamine metabolites did not correlate with suicidal behavior. Low serotonergic activity may correlate with a predisposition to more lethal suicide attempts in major depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Malone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D006719:Homovanillic Acid