CSF 5-HIAA and DST non-suppression -independent biomarkers in suicide attempters?
BACKGROUND
Two major biomarkers of suicidal behaviour; low 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and non-suppression in the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) have evidence for predictive power for suicide in mood disorders. Previous suicide attempt is the most robust clinical risk factor.


OBJECTIVE
To study the interrelationship of suicide risk factors: low CSF 5-HIAA and the DST non-suppression in mood disorder patients with and without an index suicide attempt.


METHODS
Fifty-eight hospitalised mood disorder patients (twenty-five with an index suicide attempt), who were not receiving any treatment with antidepressants, underwent lumbar puncture and DST. Plasma cortisol levels were determined from blood samples drawn the following day at 8:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. and analysed in relation to CSF 5-HIAA.


RESULTS
In the sample as a whole, the serum cortisol level at 4:00 p.m. showed a significant positive correlation to CSF 5-HIAA (r=0.3, p<0.02). In the patients with an index suicide attempt, the serum cortisol at 4.00 p.m. correlated positively with CSF 5-HIAA (r=0.65, p<0.0006), but not in the non-attempters (NS).


CONCLUSIONS
The positive correlation means that low CSF 5-HIAA and DST non-suppression are relatively independent biomarkers of suicide risk in suicide attempters. The interrelation of the two systems seems to be different in suicide attempters compared to depressed inpatients without suicide attempt.
Jokinen
Jussi
J
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. jussi.jokinen@ki.se
Mårtensson
Björn
B
Nordström
Anna-Lena
AL
Nordström
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone