TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Endogenous cannabinoid levels and suicidality in combat veterans
JO  - Psychiatry research
A1  - Sher, Leo
A1  - Bierer, Linda M.
A1  - Flory, Janine
A1  - Hill, Matthew N.
A1  - Makotkine, Iouri
A1  - Yehuda, Rachel
SP  - 112495
EP  - 112495
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - Combat veterans are at elevated suicide risk. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that combat veterans who have made a suicide attempt post-deployment can be distinguished from combat veterans who have never made a suicide attempt based on differences in psychological and biological variables. For the latter, we focused on endogenous cannabinoids, neuroendocrine markers that are associated with stress. Demographic and clinical parameters of suicide attempters and non-attempters were assessed. Blood samples were assayed for anandamide (AEA), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and cortisol. Suicide attempters had higher Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI) scores in comparison to non-attempters. Controlling for gender, 2-AG levels were higher among suicide attempters in comparison to non-attempters. Cortisol levels positively correlated with 2-AG levels and negatively correlated with SSI scores among non-attempters but not among attempters. AEA levels negatively correlated with SSI scores among attempters but not among non-attempters. Our results indicate that there are psychological and biological differences between combat veterans with or without a history of suicidal attempt. Our findings also suggest that clinically observed differences between the groups may have a neurobiological basis.<br><br>Published by Elsevier B.V.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0165-1781
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112495
ID  - ref1
ER  -