Citation

Roy A, De Jong J, Linnoila M. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 1989; 46(7): 609-612.

Affiliation

Division of Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Md 20892.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, American Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2472124

Abstract

We carried out a 5-year follow-up study of suicidal behavior among depressed patients who earlier had determinations of cerebrospinal fluid levels of monoamine metabolites. Patients who reattempted suicide during the follow-up had significantly lower cerebrospinal fluid levels of both the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid. The findings were most striking among melancholic patients. These follow-up results suggest that reduced central turnover of serotonin and dopamine may be associated with further suicidal behavior among depressed patients who have previously attempted suicide.

Language: en