Alterations of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) plasma levels in mood disorder patients with a recent suicide attempt.
In order to receive a further understanding of stress-regulation in depressed suicide attempters, peptides that are supposed to be related to the stress system (the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the autonomic nervous system) were studied in plasma. When compared with healthy controls, cortisol was high (p<0.001) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) appeared to be low (p<0.001) in patients who had recently attempted suicide. Patients who had repeatedly attempted suicide had the lowest NPY. A correlation between NPY and cortisol (p<0.05) was found in suicidal patients with depression NOS, whereas beta-endorphins correlated with cortisol (p<0.01) in suicidal patients with major depressive disorder. A postdexamethasone decrease of NPY was noted in the controls but not in the patients. These results suggest stress system alterations in suicidal patients with mood disorders.
Westrin
A
A
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lund University, Sweden.
Ekman
R
R
Träskman-Bendz
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone