title: Increased plasma nitric oxide metabolites in suicide attempters.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bun-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dokyung
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Heon-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong-Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Se-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Do-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Changsu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yong-Ku
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide