Citation

Pitchot W, Hansenne M, Pinto E, Reggers J, Fuchs S, Ansseau M. Neuropsychobiology 2001; 44(2): 91-94.

Affiliation

Psychiatric Unit, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium. wpitchot@chu.ulg.ac.be

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Karger Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11490178

Abstract

Several lines of evidence tend to suggest a role for noradrenaline, and more specifically alpha-2-adrenoreceptors, in the biology of suicidal behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess the growth hormone (GH) response to clonidine, an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist, in majorly depressed inpatients with a history of highly lethal suicide attempt compared to depressed patients with a history of low lethal suicide attempt and nonattempters. Our sample included 20 male depressed inpatients with a history of suicide attempt compared to 20 male depressed nonattempters. We did not observe any significant difference between suicide attempters and nonattempters for GH peak values (2.4 +/- 2.9 vs. 4.1 +/- 3.7 ng/ml; F = 2.52, d.f. = 1, 38, p = 0.12). Moreover, GH peak responses to clonidine were not related to the degree of lethality of the attempt. The results of the present study do not support a major role for noradrenaline in the biology of suicidal behavior.

Language: en