engleski

Relationship between serum cholesterol and suicidal behavior

Background: Previous studies have shown relationship between low level of total cholesterol in serum and suicidal behavior. The aim of our study was to investigate whether differences in cholesterol level exist in psychiatric patients considering those patients who attempt suicide. Methods: Serum specimens of 677 patients, who were admitted in Psychiatric Hospital ‘’Sveti Ivan’’ from January till April 2006, distributed into groups with diagnosis by MKB-10, were used to estimate total cholesterol level. The MKB-10 diagnoses were: F10 = syndrome of alcoholic addiction ; F20 = schizophrenia ; F23 = psychotic disorder ; F25 = schizoaffective disorder ; F32 = depressive disorder ; F43 = stress reaction, F60 = personality disorder ; X61 non-violent suicide attempt ; X70 = violent suicide attempt. Analysis of variance was used to analyze differences in cholesterol levels between observed groups, since test of homogenous variance didn’t show statistical significant difference. Results: A significant difference (F=2.47, st.sl.=8, p=0, 012) between groups with different diagnosis was found. Multiple post hoc test (LSD) has shown that group of patients with diagnosis X61, that has the lowest cholesterol level, didn’t differ from groups of patients with diagnosis F10, F23 and X70 but it has statistical significant difference concerning groups of patients with diagnosis F20, F25, F32, F43 and F60. Conclusion: To conclude, our results approve the hypothesis of relationship between low levels of total cholesterol in serum and suicidal behavior. It also suggest that determination of total cholesterol level in serum of patients with diagnosis F10 and F23 can be used as a valuable biological marker of risk in evaluation of suicidal behavior.

serum cholesterol; suicidal behavior

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