[en] The current main neurochemical theories of the biological correlates of suicidal behavior involve serotonergic and, to a lesser extent, dopaminergic systems. Few data are available about the possible implication of the noradrenergic function. In the present study, we assessed the growth hormone response to clonidine, a selective alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, in 15 DSM-III-R major depressive inpatients with a history of suicide attempts, compared with 15 age- and gender-matched major depressive inpatients without a history of suicidal behavior. Mean (+/- SD) growth hormone peak responses to clonidine were significantly lower in the group of suicide attempters than in the control group: 2.93 +/- 3.01 ng/ml vs. 8.28 +/- 8.15 ng/ml. Therefore, these results suggest that a blunted growth hormone response to clonidine could be a biological correlate of suicidal behavior.
Disciplines :
Psychiatry
Author, co-author :
Pitchot, William ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Psychiatrie et psychologie médicale
Ansseau, Marc ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Psychiatrie et psychologie médicale
Gonzalez Moreno, Antonio; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Psychiatrie et psychologie médicale
Wauthy, Jacques ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > Psychiatrie et psychologie médicale
Hansenne, Michel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cognitives > Psycho. de la personnalité et des différences individuelles
von Frenckell, Rémy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Psychiatrie et psychologie médicale
Language :
English
Title :
Relationship between alpha 2-adrenergic function and suicidal behavior in depressed patients.
Publication date :
1994
Journal title :
Psychiatry Research
ISSN :
0165-1781
eISSN :
1872-7123
Publisher :
Elsevier North Holland Biomedical Press, Limerick, Ireland
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