@article{ref1,
title="Alpha-2-adrenoreceptors in depressed suicide attempters: relationship with medical lethality of the attempt",
journal="Neuropsychobiology",
year="2001",
author="Pitchot, W. and Hansenne, M. and Pinto, E. and Reggers, J. and Fuchs, Susanne and Ansseau, M.",
volume="44",
number="2",
pages="91-94",
abstract="Several lines of evidence tend to suggest a role for noradrenaline, and more specifically alpha-2-adrenoreceptors, in the biology of suicidal behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess the growth hormone (GH) response to clonidine, an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist, in majorly depressed inpatients with a history of highly lethal suicide attempt compared to depressed patients with a history of low lethal suicide attempt and nonattempters. Our sample included 20 male depressed inpatients with a history of suicide attempt compared to 20 male depressed nonattempters. We did not observe any significant difference between suicide attempters and nonattempters for GH peak values (2.4 +/- 2.9 vs. 4.1 +/- 3.7 ng/ml; F = 2.52, d.f. = 1, 38, p = 0.12). Moreover, GH peak responses to clonidine were not related to the degree of lethality of the attempt. The results of the present study do not support a major role for noradrenaline in the biology of suicidal behavior.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0302-282X",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}