RED-CELL AND SERUM FOLATE LEVELS IN DEPRESSED INPATIENTS WHO COMMIT VIOLENT SUICIDE - A COMPARISON WITH CONTROL-GROUPS

There has been some discussion in the recent literature regarding the possible relationship between peripheral levels of folate and serotoni n deficiency in the CNS. At the same time, such a serotonin deficiency has been implicated in the biology of suicidal behavior. Thus, decrea sed peripheral folate levels may be expected in patients who commit vi olent suicide. In this study, the red-cell and serum folate levels in nine persons who later committed suicide are compared with those in ag e- and sex-matched control groups. A one-way analysis of variance show ed no significant difference between the groups.