@article{ref1,
title="Role of dopamine in non-depressed patients with a history of suicide attempts",
journal="European psychiatry",
year="2001",
author="Pitchot, W. and Hansenne, M. and Ansseau, M.",
volume="16",
number="7",
pages="424-427",
abstract="Several data are available about the implication of the dopaminergic system in the control of inward-directed aggression. Previously, we suggested an involvement of D2-dopaminergic function in the expression of suicidal behavior by demonstrating a smaller growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine, a dopaminergic agonist, in depressed patients with a history of suicide attempts in comparison to non-attempters. In the present study, in order to test this hypothesis, GH responses to intravenous apomorphine were measured in non-depressed patients with a history of suicide attempts. The study was performed in 17 non-depressed male patients with a score less than 12 on the 17-item HAMD. The patients were subgrouped into suicide attempters (N = 7) and non-attempters (N = 10). Mean GH peak responses to apomorphine differed significantly between suicide attempters and non-attempters: (mean +/- SD) for GH peak, 10.4 +/- 8.2 ng/mL vs 27.3 +/- 13.1 ng/ml, F = 9.0, P = 0.009. In conclusion, dopaminergic disturbances seem to play a role in the biology of inward-directed aggression in non-depressed patients.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0924-9338",
doi="10.1016/s0924-9338(01)00601-0",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0924-9338(01)00601-0"
}