title: Cholesterol metabolism and suicidality in Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome carriers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors examined the relationship between cholesterol metabolism and suicidality in carriers of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and their families. This population has a partial deficiency in 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7), the enzyme that catalyzes the last step in cholesterol biosynthesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Suicidal behavior, depression, misuse of alcohol and drugs, and family history of psychopathology, including attempted or completed suicide, were assessed by structured interview in 51 carriers of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and 54 matched comparison subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significantly more suicide attempters and completers among the biological relatives of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome carriers than comparison subjects, but family history of psychopathology did not significantly differ between the groups. More suicide attempts were reported among Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome carriers than among the comparison subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results, based on a unique study design, provide additional evidence supporting the relationship between cholesterol metabolism and suicidal behavior.
authors.affiliation: McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Verdun, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lalovic
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merkens
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arsenault-Lapierre
authors.forename: Malgorzata J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nowaczyk
authors.forename: Forbes D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turecki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010375:Pedigree; D019082:Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol