CSF testosterone in 43 male suicide attempters.
Several studies have shown a relationship between high testosterone and violent aggressive behaviour. The general aim of this study was to gain knowledge of the importance of testosterone in suicide attempters. Testosterone in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analysed in men with a recent suicide attempt, diagnostically subdivided into groups according to DSM-III-R axis I and II diagnosis and mode of suicidal behaviour. In general, our patients had lower CSF testosterone levels than aggressive violent patients in other studies. Patients with depression NOS or dysthymia showed higher CSF testosterone levels than the rest. Significant positive correlation between testosterone and irritability or a negative correlation with social desirability was found in diagnostic subgroup of patients, specifically axis II, cluster B personality disorders. The results suggest that suicide attempts may be mediated by different biological variables than aggression.
Gustavsson
Gunnar
G
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Lund University, 221 85, Lund, Sweden.
Träskman-Bendz
Lil
L
Higley
J Dee
JD
Westrin
Asa
A
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013739:Testosterone / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D013739:Testosterone