Naslov
Cholesterol serum levels in violent and non-violent young male schizophrenic suicide attempters.

Autori
Marčinko, Darko ; Martinac, Marko ; Karlović, Dalibor ; Lončar, Časlav

Izvornik
Psychiatria Danubina (0353-5053) 16 (2004); 161-164

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Suicide attempt; schizophrenia; serum cholesterol

Sažetak
Low serum cholesterol has been related to suicidality in epidemiological studies, in animal studies, and even in studies with psychiatric patients. This association appears to be stronger in males than females. The main hypothesis proposed to explain this relationship is the association of low levels of cholesterol, decreased serotonergic neurotransmission, and impulsivity. The investigation of biological correlates of suicidal behavior is important in searching or possible changes in neuronal systems activity related to that behavior, so that pharmacological interventions may be proposed, especially in high-risk subjects. Low serum cholesterol levels may be associated with impulsive suicide attempts in males. Our prospective study used a case-control design to compare serum total cholesterol concentration, in young schizophrenic men after non-violent (n - 13) suicide attempts and violent suicide attempts (n - 13), also included non-suicidal controls, also with diagnosis of schizophrenia (n - 13). Psychiatric diagnosis of schizophrenia was made according to DSM-IV criteria. Patients with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and with cholesterol-lowering therapy were excluded. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether men after a violent suicide attempts have different serum cholesterol concentrations than those who attempted suicide by non-violent methods. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) with age and BMI (body mass index) as the covariates were used to analyze differences in cholesterol levels in observed groups. Using the Scheffé test, a significant difference in serum cholesterol (p=0.01) was revealed between the group of violent and non-violent suicide attempters and between the violent suicide attempters and the control group (p<0.01). Our findings suggest that suicide attempts should not be considered a homogenous group. They are consistent with the theory that low levels of cholesterol are associated with increased tendency for impulsive behavior and aggression and contribute to a more violent pattern of suicidal behavior.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

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