%0 Journal Article
%T Increased fear-potentiated startle in major depressive disorder patients with lifetime history of suicide attempt
%J Journal of affective disorders
%D 2014
%A Ballard, Elizabeth D.
%A Ionescu, Dawn F.
%A van de Voort, Jennifer L.
%A Slonena, Elizabeth E.
%A Franco-Chaves, Jose A.
%A Zarate, Carlos A.
%A Grillon, Christian
%V 162
%N 
%P 34-38
%X BACKGROUND: Suicide is a common reason for psychiatric emergency and morbidity, with few effective treatments. Anxiety symptoms have emerged as potential modifiable risk factors in the time before a suicide attempt, but few studies have been conducted using laboratory measures of fear and anxiety. We operationally defined fear and anxiety as increased startle reactivity during anticipation of predictable (fear-potentiated startle) and unpredictable (anxiety-potentiated startle) shock. We hypothesized that a lifetime history of suicide attempt (as compared to history of no suicide attempt) would be associated with increased fear-potentiated startle. <br><br>METHODS: A post-hoc analysis of fear- and anxiety-potentiated startle was conducted in 28 medication-free patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) divided according to suicide attempt history. <br><br>RESULTS: The magnitude of fear-potentiated startle was increased in depressed patients with lifetime suicide attempts compared to those without a lifetime history of suicide attempt (F(1,26)=5.629, p=.025). There was no difference in anxiety-potentiated startle by suicide attempt history. LIMITATIONS: This is a post-hoc analysis of previously analyzed patient data from a study of depressed inpatients. Further replication of the finding with a larger patient sample is indicated. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Increased fear-potentiated startle in suicide attempters suggests the role of amygdala in depressed patients with a suicide attempt history. <br><br>FINDINGS highlight the importance of anxiety symptoms in the treatment of patients at increased suicide risk.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Elsevier Publishing
%@ 0165-0327
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.03.027