Citation

Lee HJ, Kim YK. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2003; 108(3): 215-221.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1034/j.1600-0447.2003.00115.x

PMID

12890277

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a correlation exists between lower serum lipid concentrations and increased suicide risk.
METHOD: Serum lipid profiles were pair-matched for 60 patients who had recently experienced failed attempts at suicide and equal numbers of non-suicidal psychiatric patients, and normal controls. Suicide attempt severity was scored using Weisman and Worden's risk-rescue rating scale.
RESULTS: (a). Total serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels were found to be lower in the parasuicidal population at statistically significant levels (P < 0.01 and <0.05, respectively); (b). triglyceride concentrations were lower in suicide attempters with major depression compared with non-suicidal depressed patients; and (c). risk-rescue rating scores were negatively correlated with total serum cholesterol levels (r = -0.347, P = 0.007).
CONCLUSION: Low lipid metabolism may be a potential biological marker in the assessment of suicide risk. Further investigations are necessary to elucidate the biological mechanisms of these findings.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Analysis of Variance; Female; Humans; Lipids; Male; Mental Disorders; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Distribution; Suicide, Attempted