title: Plasma serotonin levels and suicidal behavior in adolescents.
abstract: To evaluate the relationship between plasma serotonin (p5-HT) levels and psychometric measures in suicidal adolescents vs. controls, 211 adolescents from three sites in Israel were divided into four groups: suicidal psychiatric inpatients (n=35); non-suicidal psychiatric inpatients (n=30); adolescents referred to the emergency room (ER) due to a suicide attempt (n=51); and a community-based control group from 4 high schools in the same catchment areas (n=95). All were interviewed and assessed for violence, aggression, depression, impulsivity, anger, anxiety, and p5-HT. p5-HT levels were significantly lower in the control group compared to all other groups. A significant negative correlation was found between p5-HT level and suicidal behavior severity among the suicidal inpatients. p5-HT did not discriminate between the psychiatric diagnostic categories and was significantly lower in ER violent compared to non-violent subjects. Gender, depression, and anger were associated with suicidal behavior in all four groups. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores together with p5-HT levels discriminated between healthy controls and other groups. p5-HT level in combination with some of the psychometric scales may serve as a safe and inexpensive peripheral marker of psychopathology, and may help to differentiate between sub-populations of suicidal adolescents. The biological mechanism behind the serotonin dysregulation in suicidal adolescents requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Division, Geha Mental Health Center, Petach Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tyano
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zalsman
authors.forename: Hadas
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ofek
authors.forename: Ilanan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Apter
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolovik
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sommerfeld
authors.forename: Daniella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harell
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weizman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000374:Aggression; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin