Increased plasma nitric oxide metabolites in suicide attempters.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate any correlation between plasma levels of nitric oxide metabolites (NO(x)) and suicide attempt.


METHODS
Plasma NO(x) levels were measured in 53 patients who had recently attempted suicide, 58 non-suicidal psychiatric patients, and 75 normal controls. The severity of suicidal behaviors was evaluated using Weisman and Worden's Risk-Rescue Rating Scale.


RESULTS
Plasma NO(x) levels were significantly higher in suicidal patients than non-suicidal psychiatric patients or normal control subjects (F=11.029, d.f.=2, 183, p<0.001). Among the patients with a diagnosis of major depression, suicidal depressive patients had significantly higher plasma NO(x) levels than non-suicidal depressive patients (t=-3.090, d.f.=84, p=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that increased NO production in plasma is associated with suicide attempt, especially in depressive patients.
Lee
Bun-Hee
BH
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Sung-Woo
SW
Yoon
Dokyung
D
Lee
Heon-Jeong
HJ
Yang
Jong-Chul
JC
Shim
Se-Hoon
SH
Kim
Do-Hoon
DH
Ryu
Seung-Ho
SH
Han
Changsu
C
Kim
Yong-Ku
YK
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D009569:Nitric Oxide