TY - JOUR
T1 - Plasma serotonin levels and suicidal behavior in adolescents
AU - Tyano, Samuel
AU - Zalsman, Gil
AU - Ofek, Hadas
AU - Blum, Ilanan
AU - Apter, Alan
AU - Wolovik, Luisa
AU - Sher, Leo
AU - Sommerfeld, Eliane
AU - Harell, Daniella
AU - Weizman, Abraham
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by Sacta-Rashi Foundation, the Harisson Foundation, The Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Health, and the National Institute For Psychobiology in Israel, Founded by Charles E. Smith Family, Grant No. 99/9b. The authors thank Robyne Diller, PhD, for editing this paper.
PY - 2006/1
Y1 - 2006/1
N2 - To evaluate the relationship between plasma serotonin (p5-HT) levels and psychometric measures in suicidal adolescents vs. controls, 211 adolescents from three sites in Israel were divided into four groups: suicidal psychiatric inpatients (n = 35); non-suicidal psychiatric inpatients (n = 30); adolescents referred to the emergency room (ER) due to a suicide attempt (n = 51); and a community-based control group from 4 high schools in the same catchment areas (n = 95). All were interviewed and assessed for violence, aggression, depression, impulsivity, anger, anxiety, and p5-HT. p5-HT levels were significantly lower in the control group compared to all other groups. A significant negative correlation was found between p5-HT level and suicidal behavior severity among the suicidal inpatients. p5-HT did not discriminate between the psychiatric diagnostic categories and was significantly lower in ER violent compared to non-violent subjects. Gender, depression, and anger were associated with suicidal behavior in all four groups. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores together with p5-HT levels discriminated between healthy controls and other groups. p5-HT level in combination with some of the psychometric scales may serve as a safe and inexpensive peripheral marker of psychopathology, and may help to differentiate between sub-populations of suicidal adolescents. The biological mechanism behind the serotonin dysregulation in suicidal adolescents requires further investigation.
AB - To evaluate the relationship between plasma serotonin (p5-HT) levels and psychometric measures in suicidal adolescents vs. controls, 211 adolescents from three sites in Israel were divided into four groups: suicidal psychiatric inpatients (n = 35); non-suicidal psychiatric inpatients (n = 30); adolescents referred to the emergency room (ER) due to a suicide attempt (n = 51); and a community-based control group from 4 high schools in the same catchment areas (n = 95). All were interviewed and assessed for violence, aggression, depression, impulsivity, anger, anxiety, and p5-HT. p5-HT levels were significantly lower in the control group compared to all other groups. A significant negative correlation was found between p5-HT level and suicidal behavior severity among the suicidal inpatients. p5-HT did not discriminate between the psychiatric diagnostic categories and was significantly lower in ER violent compared to non-violent subjects. Gender, depression, and anger were associated with suicidal behavior in all four groups. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores together with p5-HT levels discriminated between healthy controls and other groups. p5-HT level in combination with some of the psychometric scales may serve as a safe and inexpensive peripheral marker of psychopathology, and may help to differentiate between sub-populations of suicidal adolescents. The biological mechanism behind the serotonin dysregulation in suicidal adolescents requires further investigation.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Aggression
KW - Depression
KW - Plasma
KW - Serotonin
KW - Suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=29444446374&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2005.05.005
DO - 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2005.05.005
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AN - SCOPUS:29444446374
SN - 0924-977X
VL - 16
SP - 49
EP - 57
JO - European Neuropsychopharmacology
JF - European Neuropsychopharmacology
IS - 1
ER -