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Low blood cholesterol and low platelet serotonin levels in violent suicide attempters
J C Alvarez1, D Cremniter, P Lesieur
1Faculté de Médecine Paris-Ouest, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France.
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.