Citation

Asellus P, Nordström P, Jokinen J. J. Affect. Disord. 2010; 125(1-3): 388-392.

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Neuroscience/Psychiatry, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2010.02.111

PMID

20299106

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Low serum cholesterol has been linked to suicide and violent behaviour. The same kind of associations has been reported regarding low levels of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and suicidal behaviour. The hypothesis of the link between serum cholesterol and suicide incorporate serotonin. It proposes that low cholesterol is related to altered serotonergic neurotransmission. A correlation between CSF 5-HIAA and serum cholesterol has been shown in animal studies, but has not been found in humans. AIM: To study the interrelationship between serum cholesterol and CSF 5-HIAA in suicide attempters. Since both cholesterol and CSF 5-HIAA are associated with suicide and violent suicide attempts, we also investigated the correlation with suicide, violent suicide attempt method, suicide intent, hopelessness and depression severity. METHODS: Serum total cholesterol and CSF 5-HIAA were measured in 42 medication free suicide attempters. Patients were assessed with Becks's Hopelessness scale (BHS), Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) and Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS) and followed-up for causes of death. RESULTS: Serum total cholesterol and CSF 5-HIAA showed a significant positive correlation adjusted for age, body mass index and substance abuse diagnosis. Cholesterol and CSF 5-HIAA levels did not differ between violent and non-violent suicide attempters or between suicide completers and survivors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the serotonergic system may be connected to serum cholesterol in patients with a recent suicide attempt.

Language: en