Citation

Gmitrowicz A, Kołodziej-Meciejewska H. Arch. Psychiatry Psychother. 2002; 4(4): 37-51.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Polish Psychiatric Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background and aim: The objective of this research was to find out whether there is a relation between the observed suicidal behaviours, mental disorders and dysfunction of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Material and method: Two populations were subject of the research: 84 adolescents aged 14-21, after suicide attempts (ASA - drug overdose), never treated psychiatrically, and 30 adolescents after accidental intoxication (ACI). In each patient the serum levels of cortisol and ACTH were assessed, and the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) was made.

RESULTS: Most patients in the ASA group were females. In this group statistically higher levels of cortisol after DST were found, as compared to the ACI group. Considering the patients' sex, the differences of serum cortisol levels were significant only in females. We found that higher cortisol levels in ASA were related to diagnosed depressive disorders (mostly in females), presence of psychosocial and environmental problems, and elevated risk of repeated suicide attempt.

CONCLUSION: In the examined group of 84 adolescents after suicidal poisonings a statistically significantly higher serum cortisol levels after dexamethasone were found, as compared to the control group composed of 30 accidentally intoxicated adolescents.

Language: en

Keywords

accident; adolescent; Adolescents; adult; article; controlled study; corticotropin; corticotropin blood level; Cortisol; depression; dexamethasone; dexamethasone suppression test; Dexamethasone suppression test; disease association; drug overdose; endocrine disease; environment; female; gender; human; hydrocortisone; hydrocortisone blood level; hypothalamus hypophysis adrenal system; major clinical study; male; mental disease; psychiatric treatment; psychosocial disorder; risk assessment; statistical analysis; Suicide; suicide attempt