@article{ref1,
title="Dexamethasone suppression test and suicide attempts in schizophrenic patients",
journal="European psychiatry",
year="2001",
author="Płocka-Lewandowska, M. and Araszkiewicz, A. and Rybakowski, J. K.",
volume="16",
number="7",
pages="428-431",
abstract="The suicide attempts were assessed in 32 schizophrenic patients on whom the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was done twice in the course of illness: in the years 1985-91 and 1996-97. In the 1985-91 period, both baseline and post-dexamethasone cortisol levels were significantly higher in the patients with previous suicide attempts and baseline cortisol was higher in the patients who were to make a future attempt. In 1996-97, DST non-suppression was shown in more than half of the patients with a history of suicide attempt and in none of those without such history: all cortisol levels were significantly higher in the patients with a history of suicide attempt. Although the mean intensity of depression was higher in the patients with a history of suicide attempt, no association between the intensity of depression and present or previous DST non-suppression status was found. It is suggested that the hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may constitute an element of diathesis for suicidal behavior in schizophrenic patients.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0924-9338",
doi="10.1016/s0924-9338(01)00602-2",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0924-9338(01)00602-2"
}