Alpha-2-adrenoreceptors in depressed suicide attempters: relationship with medical lethality of the attempt.
Several lines of evidence tend to suggest a role for noradrenaline, and more specifically alpha-2-adrenoreceptors, in the biology of suicidal behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess the growth hormone (GH) response to clonidine, an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist, in majorly depressed inpatients with a history of highly lethal suicide attempt compared to depressed patients with a history of low lethal suicide attempt and nonattempters. Our sample included 20 male depressed inpatients with a history of suicide attempt compared to 20 male depressed nonattempters. We did not observe any significant difference between suicide attempters and nonattempters for GH peak values (2.4 +/- 2.9 vs. 4.1 +/- 3.7 ng/ml; F = 2.52, d.f. = 1, 38, p = 0.12). Moreover, GH peak responses to clonidine were not related to the degree of lethality of the attempt. The results of the present study do not support a major role for noradrenaline in the biology of suicidal behavior.
Pitchot
W
W
Psychiatric Unit, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium. wpitchot@chu.ulg.ac.be
Hansenne
M
M
Pinto
E
E
Reggers
J
J
Fuchs
S
S
Ansseau
M
M
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000328:Adult; D003000:Clonidine; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine