Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-wg55d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-30T07:47:16.774Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dexamethasone suppression test and suicide attempts in schizophrenic patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

M. Płocka-Lewandowska ,
A. Araszkiewicz  and
J.K. Rybakowski
M. Płocka-Lewandowska
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical School, Bydgoszcz, Poland
A. Araszkiewicz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical School, Bydgoszcz, Poland
J.K. Rybakowski*
Affiliation:
Department of Adult Psychiatry, University of Medical Sciences, Ul.Szpitalna27/33, 60-572, Poznań, Poland
*
*Correspondence and reprints. E-mail address: rybakows@wlkp.top.pl (J.K. Rybakowski).
Get access

Summary

The suicide attempts were assessed in 32 schizophrenic patients on whom the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was done twice in the course of illness: in the years 1985–91 and 1996–97. In the 1985–91 period, both baseline and post-dexamethasone cortisol levels were significantly higher in the patients with previous suicide attempts and baseline cortisol was higher in the patients who were to make a future attempt. In 1996–97, DST non-suppression was shown in more than half of the patients with a history of suicide attempt and in none of those without such history: all cortisol levels were significantly higher in the patients with a history of suicide attempt. Although the mean intensity of depression was higher in the patients with a history of suicide attempt, no association between the intensity of depression and present or previous DST non-suppression status was found. It is suggested that the hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may constitute an element of diathesis for suicidal behavior in schizophrenic patients.

Keywords

dexamethasone suppression testschizophreniasuicidality
Type
Short Communications
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 16 , Issue 7 , November 2001 , pp. 428 - 431
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Coryell, WSchlesser, M.The dexamethasone suppression test and suicide prediction. Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158: 748–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Engstrom, GAlling, CGustavsson, POreland, LTräskman-Bendz, L.Clinical characteristics and biological parameters in temperamental clusters of suicide attempters. J Affective Disord 1997; 44: 45–55.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ismail, KMurray, RMWheeler, MJO'Keane, V.The dexamethasone suppression test in schizophrenia. Psychol M 1998; 28: 311–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, JSStein, DJStanley, BGiudo, JRWinchel, RStanley, M.Negative and depressive symptoms in suicidal schizophrenics. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1994; 89: 81–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lewis, CFTandon, RShipley, JEDeQuardo, JRJibson, MTaylor, SF. et al. Biological predictors of suicidality in schizophrenia. Acta Psychiat Scand 1996; 94: 416–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyons, DM. Glucocorticoids, catecholamines, and cognitive control. Paper presented at the 38th ACNP Annual Meeting; 1999 Dec. 12–16; Acapulco, Mexico.Google Scholar
Meltzer, HYOkayli, G.Reduction of suicidality during clozapine treatment of neuroleptic-resistant schizophrenia: impact on risk-benefit assessment. Am J Psychiatry 1995; 152: 183–90.Google ScholarPubMed
Norman, WHBrown, WAMiller, IWKeitner, GIOverholser, JC.The dexamethasone suppression test and completed suicide. Acta Psychiatr Scand 1990; 81: 120–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Perenyi, AFrescka, ERihmer, ZArato, M.Dexamethasone suppression test and depressive symptoms in schizophrenics and endogenous depressive patients. Pharmacopsychiatry 1987; 20: 45–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roy, A.Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and suicidal behavior in depression. Biol Psychiatry 1992; 32: 812–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rybakowski, JLinka, M.Wpływ leczenia neuroleptycznego na objawy pozytywne i negatywne schizofrenii oraz wyniki testu deksametazonowego. Psychiatr Pol 1991; 25: 1–6.Google Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.