title: Low blood cholesterol and low platelet serotonin levels in violent suicide attempters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the possible connection between serum cholesterol levels and platelet serotonin (5-HT) content in violent suicide attempters and matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples for cholesterol and platelet 5-HT levels were obtained from 17 drug-free patients within 3 days after the suicide attempt.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum cholesterol and platelet 5-HT levels in the suicide attempters were significantly lower than in the controls; however, we did not find any significant correlation between these two variables. Indeed, three clinical dimensions are present in this patient group: suicidality, violence, and impulsiveness. Because we did not find a difference in cholesterol and platelet 5-HT levels between impulsive and nonimpulsive patients, these two indexes may more reflect the dimension of suicidality and/or violence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further investigation is necessary to study the dependence of these two peripheral abnormalities within the context of violent suicidal behavior.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine Paris-Ouest, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cremniter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lesieur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gregoire
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gilton
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Macquin-Mavier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jarreau
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Spreux-Varoquaux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014754:Violence
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D002784:Cholesterol