Reduced dopamine function in depressed patients is related to suicidal behavior but not its lethality.
Several lines of evidence suggest a role for dopamine in the control of suicidal behaviour. Previously, we suggested an involvement of D2-dopaminergic function in the biology of suicide by demonstrating a smaller growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine, a dopaminergic agonist, in depressed patients who later died by suicide. The purpose of the present study was to assess GH response to apomorphine in major depressed in-patients with a history of highly lethal suicide attempt compared to depressed patients with a low lethal lifetime suicide attempt history and non-attempters. The study was performed in a sample of 26 male depressed in-patients with a history of suicide attempt compared to 26 male depressed non-attempters. We observed a significant difference between suicide attempters and non-attempters (for GH peak, 6.3+/-5.1 ng/ml vs 15.8+/-14.2 ng/ml, F=10.3, df=1, 50, P=0.002). Moreover, GH peak responses to apomorphine did not differ between depressed patients with a high lethal lifetime suicide attempt history and patients who made low lethal lifetime suicide attempt. In conclusion, the results of the present study support a role for dopamine in the biology of suicidal behaviour. More specifically, an impaired GH response to apomorphine could be a marker of suicide risk.
Pitchot
W
W
Psychiatric Unit, CHU Sart Tilman, B-4000, Liège, Belgium. witchot@chu.ulg.ac.be
Hansenne
M
M
Gonzalez Moreno
A
A
Pinto
E
E
Reggers
J
J
Fuchs
S
S
Pirard
S
S
Ansseau
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D001058:Apomorphine; D004298:Dopamine