Citation

Pitchot W, Hansenne M, Ansseau M. Eur. Psychiatry 2001; 16(7): 424-427.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/s0924-9338(01)00601-0

PMID

11728856

Abstract

Several data are available about the implication of the dopaminergic system in the control of inward-directed aggression. Previously, we suggested an involvement of D2-dopaminergic function in the expression of suicidal behavior by demonstrating a smaller growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine, a dopaminergic agonist, in depressed patients with a history of suicide attempts in comparison to non-attempters. In the present study, in order to test this hypothesis, GH responses to intravenous apomorphine were measured in non-depressed patients with a history of suicide attempts. The study was performed in 17 non-depressed male patients with a score less than 12 on the 17-item HAMD. The patients were subgrouped into suicide attempters (N = 7) and non-attempters (N = 10). Mean GH peak responses to apomorphine differed significantly between suicide attempters and non-attempters: (mean +/- SD) for GH peak, 10.4 +/- 8.2 ng/mL vs 27.3 +/- 13.1 ng/ml, F = 9.0, P = 0.009. In conclusion, dopaminergic disturbances seem to play a role in the biology of inward-directed aggression in non-depressed patients.

Language: en

Keywords

Apomorphine; Brain; Dopamine; Dopamine Agonists; Hospitals, Psychiatric; Human Growth Hormone; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Suicide, Attempted