Citation

Pompili M, Serafini G, Palermo M, Stefani H, Seretti ME, Amore M, Girardi P, Lester D. CNS Neurol. Disord. Drug Targets 2013; 12(7): 954-970.

Affiliation

Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs - Sant'Andrea Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 1035-1039, Via di Grottarossa, 00189, Rome, Italy. maurizio.pompili@uniroma1.it.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Bentham Science Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

24040800

Abstract

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity measured with the dexamethasone (DEX) suppression test and the DEX/CRH test may have some predictive power for suicidal behavior in patients with mood disorders. Increased prolactin (PRL) levels may be related both to physiological and pathological conditions. HPA-axis abnormalities and increased levels of PRL may coexist, and common neuroendocrine changes may activate both HPA axis and PRL release. HPA-axis hyperactivity is presumably present in a large subpopulation of depressed subjects. Suicidal behavior is considered to be a form of inward-directed aggression, and aggressive behavior has been connected to high androgen levels. However, lower plasma total testosterone levels have also been reported in subjects with depression and higher suicidality. Lipid/immune dysregulations, the increased ratio of blood fatty acids, and increased PRL levels may each be associated with the increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which have been reported in patients with major depression and patients engaging in suicidal behavior. Although no studies have been done to determine whether ante-mortem physical stress may be detected by raised post-mortem PRL, this would be of great interest for physicians.

Language: en