Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
06:15
A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Salivary cortisol and suicidal behavior--a follow-up study.
Daniel Lindqvist1, Anders Isaksson, Lil Träskman-Bendz
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, Kioskgatan 19, Lund University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden. Daniel.Lindqvist@med.lu.se
Psychoneuroendocrinology
|August 2, 2008
Summary
This study found that suicide attempters exhibit lower hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activity, indicated by reduced cortisol levels, particularly in women with repeated attempts. This suggests a link between hypocortisolism and suicidal behavior, potentially due to severe psychiatric conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Major depressive disorder is often linked to hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis.
- Research on HPA-axis function in suicide attempters is less extensive and yields conflicting results.
- Understanding HPA-axis dysregulation is crucial for addressing suicidal behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate HPA-axis parameters in suicide attempters during the acute phase and long-term follow-up.
- To explore potential associations between HPA-axis function and the occurrence and severity of suicidal behavior.
Main Methods:
- Studied 35 suicide attempters and 16 non-suicidal controls admitted between 1986-1992.
- Measured cerebrospinal fluid corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and urinary cortisol in attempters.
- Conducted a follow-up approximately 12 years later, measuring salivary cortisol and assessing psychiatric symptoms and further suicide attempts.
Main Results:
- Suicide attempters showed lower evening salivary cortisol levels at long-term follow-up compared to controls.
- Low follow-up cortisol was associated with severe psychiatric symptoms.
- In women, repeated suicide attempts correlated with lower morning and lunch salivary cortisol, and with CRH and urinary cortisol at index admission.
Conclusions:
- Evidence suggests an association between reduced HPA-axis activity (hypocortisolism) and suicidal behavior.
- This hypocortisolism may result from chronic, severe psychiatric morbidity that exhausts the HPA-axis.
- Hypocortisolism warrants further investigation in the context of suicidal patients.
