Low blood cholesterol and low platelet serotonin levels in violent suicide attempters

• Published in: Biological psychiatry (1969) Vol. 45; no. 8; pp. 1066 - 1069
• Main Authors: Alvarez, Jean Claude, Cremniter, Didier, Lesieur, Philippe, Gregoire, Anne, Gilton, Alain, Macquin-Mavier, Isabelle, Jarreau, Claude, Spreux-Varoquaux, Odile
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 15-04-1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Platelets - chemistry; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Female; Humans; impulsivity; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; serotonin; Serotonin - analysis; serum; Suicide; Suicide, Attempted; Violence; violent; impulsivity; violent; serotonin; serum; Cholesterol; suicide; Human; Impulsivity; Platelet; Serotonin; Lipids; Serum; Suicide attempt
• ISSN: 0006-3223; 1873-2402
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3223(98)00160-7

Aim of the study: This study investigated the possible connection between serum cholesterol levels and platelet serotonin (5-HT) content in violent suicide attempters and matched controls.
Methods: Blood samples for cholesterol and platelet 5-HT levels were obtained from 17 drug-free patients within 3 days after the suicide attempt.
Results: Serum cholesterol and platelet 5-HT levels in the suicide attempters were significantly lower than in the controls; however, we did not find any significant correlation between these two variables. Indeed, three clinical dimensions are present in this patient group: suicidality, violence, and impulsiveness. Because we did not find a difference in cholesterol and platelet 5-HT levels between impulsive and nonimpulsive patients, these two indexes may more reflect the dimension of suicidality and/or violence.
Conclusions: Further investigation is necessary to study the dependence of these two peripheral abnormalities within the context of violent suicidal behavior.