alpha-[11C]Methyl-L-tryptophan trapping in the orbital and ventral medial prefrontal cortex of suicide attempters.
Low serotonin neurotransmission is thought to increase vulnerability to suicidal behavior. To test this hypothesis, we measured brain regional serotonin synthesis, as indexed by PET and alpha-[(11)C]methyl-L-tryptophan trapping, in 10 patients who had made a high-lethality suicide attempt and 16 healthy controls. Compared to healthy controls, suicide attempters had reduced normalized alpha-[(11)C]methyl-L-tryptophan trapping in orbital and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. alpha-[(11)C]Methyl-L-tryptophan trapping in these regions correlated negatively with suicide intent. Low serotonin synthesis in the prefrontal cortex might lower the threshold for suicidal behavior.
Leyton
Marco
M
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1A1.
Paquette
Vincent
V
Gravel
Paul
P
Rosa-Neto
Pedro
P
Weston
Francine
F
Diksic
Mirko
M
Benkelfat
Chawki
C
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C020774:alpha-methyltryptophan; D014364:Tryptophan