title: Is MAO-B activity in platelets associated with the occurrence of suicidality and behavioural personality traits in depressed patients?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low platelet monoaminoxidase B (MAO-B) activity has been associated with various forms of impulsive behaviour and suicidality. The present study investigated the relationship between MAO-B activity in platelets and aspects of suicidality in depressed patients and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 87 patients with affective spectrum disorders (58% suffering from a major depressive episode - MDE) the potential association between platelet MAO-B activity and suicidality was examined. Fifty-nine of the patients had committed suicide attempt recently (SA -'suicide attempters'), 28 patients were acutely depressed without having shown suicidal thoughts or suicidal behaviour in the past (NA -'non-suicide attempters').
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SA and NA were comparable as to their diagnoses and general demographic and psychopathological parameters. MAO-B activity did not differ between SA and NA. No systematic correlations existed between MAO-B activity and any dimensions of suicidal behaviour or psychopathology. As a single finding only a weak positive association of higher MAO-B activity in SA with a fatal intention of the SA was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings do not support a consistent association of platelet MAO-B activity and suicidal behaviour in general, but specific facts of suicidality might be associated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. ute.lewitzka@uniklinikum-dresden.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lewitzka
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Müller-Oerlinghausen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Felber
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brunner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hawellek
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rujescu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ising
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lauterbach
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broocks
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bondy
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frahnert
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Heuser
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hohagen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bronisch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012074:Remission Induction; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase