Citation

Pitchot W, Hansenne M, Gonzalez Moreno A, Pinto E, Reggers J, Fuchs S, Pirard S, Ansseau M. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2001; 26(7): 689-696.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/s0306-4530(01)00021-x

PMID

11500250

Abstract

Several lines of evidence suggest a role for dopamine in the control of suicidal behaviour. Previously, we suggested an involvement of D2-dopaminergic function in the biology of suicide by demonstrating a smaller growth hormone (GH) response to apomorphine, a dopaminergic agonist, in depressed patients who later died by suicide. The purpose of the present study was to assess GH response to apomorphine in major depressed in-patients with a history of highly lethal suicide attempt compared to depressed patients with a low lethal lifetime suicide attempt history and non-attempters. The study was performed in a sample of 26 male depressed in-patients with a history of suicide attempt compared to 26 male depressed non-attempters. We observed a significant difference between suicide attempters and non-attempters (for GH peak, 6.3+/-5.1 ng/ml vs 15.8+/-14.2 ng/ml, F=10.3, df=1, 50, P=0.002). Moreover, GH peak responses to apomorphine did not differ between depressed patients with a high lethal lifetime suicide attempt history and patients who made low lethal lifetime suicide attempt. In conclusion, the results of the present study support a role for dopamine in the biology of suicidal behaviour. More specifically, an impaired GH response to apomorphine could be a marker of suicide risk.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Apomorphine; Depressive Disorder; Dopamine; Dopamine Agonists; Human Growth Hormone; Humans; Male; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Suicide; Suicide, Attempted