Citation

Pitchot W, Ansseau M, Gonzalez Moreno A, Wauthy J, Hansenne M, von Frenckell R. Psychiatry Res. 1994; 52(2): 115-123.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0165-1781(94)90081-7

PMID

7972568

Abstract

The current main neurochemical theories of the biological correlates of suicidal behavior involve serotonergic and, to a lesser extent, dopaminergic systems. Few data are available about the possible implication of the noradrenergic function. In the present study, we assessed the growth hormone response to clonidine, a selective alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, in 15 DSM-III-R major depressive inpatients with a history of suicide attempts, compared with 15 age- and gender-matched major depressive inpatients without a history of suicidal behavior. Mean (+/- SD) growth hormone peak responses to clonidine were significantly lower in the group of suicide attempters than in the control group: 2.93 +/- 3.01 ng/ml vs. 8.28 +/- 8.15 ng/ml. Therefore, these results suggest that a blunted growth hormone response to clonidine could be a biological correlate of suicidal behavior.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Clonidine; Depressive Disorder; Female; Growth Hormone; Humans; Male; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; Norepinephrine; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Radioimmunoassay; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; Suicide, Attempted