Role of dopamine in non-depressed patients with a history of suicide attempts.
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 non-attempters. In the present study, in order to test this hypothesis, GH responses to intravenous apomorphine were measured in non-depressed patients with a history of suicide attempts. The study was performed in 17 non-depressed male patients with a score less than 12 on the 17-item HAMD. The patients were subgrouped into suicide attempters (N = 7) and non-attempters (N = 10). Mean GH peak responses to apomorphine differed significantly between suicide attempters and non-attempters: (mean +/- SD) for GH peak, 10.4 +/- 8.2 ng/mL vs 27.3 +/- 13.1 ng/ml, F = 9.0, P = 0.009. In conclusion, dopaminergic disturbances seem to play a role in the biology of inward-directed aggression in non-depressed patients.
Pitchot
W
W
Psychiatric Unit, CHU Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
Hansenne
M
M
Ansseau
M
M
D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D001058:Apomorphine; D004298:Dopamine