title: Dexamethasone suppression test and suicide attempts in schizophrenic patients.
abstract: The suicide attempts were assessed in 32 schizophrenic patients on whom the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was done twice in the course of illness: in the years 1985-91 and 1996-97. In the 1985-91 period, both baseline and post-dexamethasone cortisol levels were significantly higher in the patients with previous suicide attempts and baseline cortisol was higher in the patients who were to make a future attempt. In 1996-97, DST non-suppression was shown in more than half of the patients with a history of suicide attempt and in none of those without such history: all cortisol levels were significantly higher in the patients with a history of suicide attempt. Although the mean intensity of depression was higher in the patients with a history of suicide attempt, no association between the intensity of depression and present or previous DST non-suppression status was found. It is suggested that the hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may constitute an element of diathesis for suicidal behavior in schizophrenic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Medical School, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Płocka-Lewandowska
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Araszkiewicz
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rybakowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone