Serotonergic function and self-injurious behavior in personality disorder patients.
Self-directed aggression, whether in the form of non-suicidal self-mutilation or suicidal behavior, is a prominent feature of personality disorders. We hypothesized that self-injurious behavior, like suicidal behavior, represents a form of self-directed aggression, and may, like suicidal behavior and impulsive aggression, be associated with a decrease in central serotonin function in personality disorder patients. Ninety-seven patients with DSM-III personality disorder underwent D,L-fenfluramine challenge as an assessment of serotonergic activity. Patients with a history of self-mutilation or suicide had blunted prolactin and cortisol responses to D,L-fenfluramine compared to those with neither, and those with both had the most blunted responses to fenfluramine. These data raise the possibility that the central 5-HT abnormality, previously associated with suicidal behavior, may be associated with self-directed violence and not necessarily specifically with suicidal intent.
New
A S
AS
Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA.
Trestman
R L
RL
Mitropoulou
V
V
Benishay
D S
DS
Coccaro
E
E
Silverman
J
J
Siever
L J
LJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D005277:Fenfluramine; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D011388:Prolactin; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors