title: Reduced dopaminergic activity in depressed suicides.
abstract: Several data are available about the implication of the dopaminergic system in the control of inward-directed aggression. Previously, we suggested an involvement of D2-dopaminergic function in the expression of suicidal behavior by demonstrating a smaller growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine, a dopaminergic agonist, in depressed patients with a history of suicide attempts in comparison to nonattempters. In the present study, the purpose was to analyze GH responses to apomorphine in depressive patients who later died by suicide. Our sample comprised eight male depressive inpatients who died by suicide within one year after hospitalisation. These patients were compared to 18 male major depressed inpatients who never attempted suicide. Mean GH peak responses to apomorphine differed significantly between suicide completers and controls (mean +/- SD): for GH peak, 7.6 +/- 4.1 ng/ml vs 18.9 +/- 14.2 ng/ml, U = 30, Z = -2.33, P = 0.02. Our results tend to confirm the role of dopamine in the biology of suicide in depression.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Unit, CHU Sart Tilman, B-4000, Liège, Belgium. wpitchot@chu.ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pitchot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reggers
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hansenne
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pirard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansseau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D001058:Apomorphine; D004298:Dopamine