@article{ref1,
title="Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and prolactin abnormalities in suicidal behavior",
journal="CNS and neurological disorders drug targets",
year="2013",
author="Lester, David and Girardi, Paolo and Amore, M. and Seretti, M. E. and Stefani, H. and Palermo, M. and Serafini, G. and Pompili, M.",
volume="12",
number="7",
pages="954-970",
abstract="Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity measured with the dexamethasone (DEX) suppression test and the DEX/CRH test may have some predictive power for suicidal behavior in patients with mood disorders. Increased prolactin (PRL) levels may be related both to physiological and pathological conditions. HPA-axis abnormalities and increased levels of PRL may coexist, and common neuroendocrine changes may activate both HPA axis and PRL release. HPA-axis hyperactivity is presumably present in a large subpopulation of depressed subjects. Suicidal behavior is considered to be a form of inward-directed aggression, and aggressive behavior has been connected to high androgen levels. However, lower plasma total testosterone levels have also been reported in subjects with depression and higher suicidality. Lipid/immune dysregulations, the increased ratio of blood fatty acids, and increased PRL levels may each be associated with the increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which have been reported in patients with major depression and patients engaging in suicidal behavior. Although no studies have been done to determine whether ante-mortem physical stress may be detected by raised post-mortem PRL, this would be of great interest for physicians.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1871-5273",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}