SERUM-LIPIDS IN SUICIDE ATTEMPTERS

As other studies have shown possible associations of low serum cholest erol concentrations as well as serotonin and corticosteroid deviances with suicide or depression, the present study was undertaken to invest igate the serum lipid levels in subgroups of suicide attempters. Serum lipids were determined in 72 suicide attempters. Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites and plasma cortisol levels were measured, and de xamethasone suppression tests were performed. Hopelessness and suicida lity were rated by the Hopelessness Scale (HS) and the Suicidal Intent Scales (SIS). The mean total serum cholesterol (TSC) level was 5.0 +/ - 1.2 mmol/L. We found no significant correlations between TSC and the monoamine metabolites. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed po sitive correlations with the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (r = 0.39, p = 0.04) and the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic a cid (r = 0.34, p = 0.07). The SIS and HS scales did not correlate sign ificantly with serum lipids. ''Violent'' attempters showed somewhat hi gher serum lipid levels than ''nonviolent'' attempters. We found no si gnificant differences in serum lipid levels between the diagnostic sub groups. Hence, we could not find much support for the hypothesis of as sociations between low cholesterol levels and decreased serotonin acti vity in the brain. However, this field merits further investigation.