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Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) in suicide attempters
Lena Brundin1, Maria Björkqvist, Lil Träskman-Bendz
1Division of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Kioskgatan 19, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden. Lena.Brundin@med.lu.se
Psychiatry Research
|December 22, 2007
Summary
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) levels did not differ in patients after suicide attempts. Lower CSF-CART was linked to concentration difficulties, suggesting a role in psychiatric conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) is a neuropeptide involved in regulating anxiety, depression, addiction, and energy homeostasis.
- Mutations in CART are associated with increased anxiety and depression, key features of suicidality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of CART in patients following a suicide attempt.
- To explore the relationship between CSF-CART levels and psychiatric symptoms.
Main Methods:
- CSF-CART levels were measured using radioimmunoassay in 98 patients with various psychiatric diagnoses post-suicide attempt.
- Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS) and Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP).
Main Results:
- No significant differences in CSF-CART levels were observed between diagnostic groups or controls.
- Lower CSF-CART levels were significantly associated with increased concentration difficulties.
- CSF-CART levels showed a significant correlation with CSF-orexin levels but not with CSF-corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF).
Conclusions:
- CSF-CART levels do not appear to differentiate diagnostic groups in patients after suicide attempts.
- CART may play a role in psychiatric conditions characterized by concentration difficulties, such as attention deficit disorder.
- Further research into CART's function in these specific psychiatric disorders is warranted.
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