Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Placidi, 2001 PubMed |
| Full Info | Placidi, G.P., Oquendo, M.A., Malone, K.M., Huang, Y.Y., Ellis, S.P. and Mann, J.J. (2001) Aggressivity, suicide attempts, and depression: relationship to cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolite levels. Biol Psychiatry, 50, 783-791.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
We have proposed a stress-diathesis model for suicidal behavior, in which major depression is a stressor and the diathesis is shared with aggression. Neurotransmitter correlates of the stress or diathesis have not been adequately evaluated by previous studies, because they did not simultaneously examine the relationship of multiple neurotransmitters to all three psychopathologies in the same population. In the present study we investigated the relationship of monoamine metabolites to aggressivity, suicidal behavior, and depression in patients with mood disorders.
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| Sample Information | Ninety-three drug-free subjects with a major depressive episode |
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| Method Detail | Ninety-three drug-free subjects with a major depressive episode underwent lumbar puncture and psychiatric evaluation. Cerebrospinal fluid CSF levels of 5hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA) and methoxy-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) were assayed. The relationships between monoamine metabolites and clinical variables were statistically evaluated. |
| Method Keywords | cerebrospinal fluid analysis |
| Result | Higher lifetime aggressivity correlated significantly with lower CSF 5-HIAA. Lower CSF 5-HIAA and greater suicidal intent were found in high-lethality suicide attempters compared with low-lethality suicide attempters. Low-lethality attempters did not differ biologically from nonattempters. No correlation between CSF HVA and any of the psychopathological variables was found. Only aggression showed a trend statistically in correlating positively with CSF MHPG levels. |
| Conclusions | Lower CSF 5-HIAA concentration was independently associated with severity of lifetime aggressivity and a history of a higher lethality suicide attempt and may be part of the diathesis for these behaviors. The dopamine and norepinephrine systems do not appear to be as significantly involved in suicidal acts, aggression, or depression. The biological correlates of suicide intent warrant further study. |
Relationships reported by
Placidi, 2001
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
|
Suicide (suicide)
|
symptoms |
Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5hydroxyindolacetic acid) |
molecule |
|
Lower CSF(cerebrospinal fluid) 5-HIAA(5hydroxyindolacetic acid) and greater suicidal intent were found in high-lethality suicide attempters compared with low-lethality suicide attempters. |
Positive
|
|
Irritability (aggressivity)
|
symptoms |
Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5hydroxyindolacetic acid) |
molecule |
|
Higher lifetime aggressivity correlated significantly with lower CSF(cerebrospinal fluid) 5-HIAA(5hydroxyindolacetic acid). |
Positive
|
