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Cholesterol and serotonin indices in depressed and suicidal patients
M Sarchiapone1, G Camardese, A Roy
1Institute of Psychiatry, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Background:
Prolactin and cortisol responses to d-fenfluramine challenge of central serotonin are reduced in depressed and suicidal patients. Low serum cholesterol levels are also reported in suicidal behavior. Thus, we examined for a relationship between serum cholesterol and fenfluramine challenge responses in patients with depression and/or attempted suicide.
Methods:
We studied 12 patients and six controls. Blood was drawn for baseline serum cholesterol and the d-fenfluramine challenge test performed.
Results:
Serum cholesterol levels were significantly lower in suicidal patients than in either non-suicidal patients or controls. However, neither the prolactin nor cortisol responses to d-fenfluramine correlated significantly with serum cholesterol levels.
Conclusion:
No relationship was found between serum cholesterol and these peripheral indices of serotonergic function.