Associations between suicide, violent behaviour and both hypocholesterolaemia and low 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been suggested. The relationships between lipids, the serotonergic system, suicidal and aggressive behaviors are complex. We explored relationships between serum cholesterol, CSF 5-HIAA, the planning subscale of suicide intent and violence of attempted suicide method in 13 medication-free male suicide attempters and eight healthy volunteers. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were significantly lower in suicide attempters than in controls. HDL-C showed a significant positive correlation with the planning subscale of suicide intent in non-violent suicide attempters. A positive association was observed between CSF 5-HIAA and serum cholesterol in suicides. The role of cholesterol may be different in planned non-violent suicide attempts compared with violent suicide attempts.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0165-1781 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2008.07.020 ID - ref1 ER -