Citation

Haws CA, Gray DD, Yurgelun-Todd DA, Moskos M, Meyer LJ, Renshaw PF. Med. Hypotheses 2009; 73(4): 587-590.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, USA; The Brain Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.mehy.2009.05.040

PMID

19581053

Abstract

In the United States, suicide rates consistently vary among geographic regions; the western states have significantly higher suicide rates than the eastern states. The reason for this variation is unknown but may be due to regional elevation differences. States' suicide rates (1990-1994), when adjusted for potentially confounding demographic variables, are positively correlated with their peak and capital elevations. These findings indicate that decreased oxygen saturation at high altitude may exacerbate the bioenergetic dysfunction associated with affective illnesses. Should such a link exist, therapies traditionally used to treat the metabolic disturbances associated with altitude sickness may have a role in treating those at risk for suicide.

Language: en