Platelet 5-HT2A receptor binding and tryptophan availability in depression are not associated with recent history of suicide attempts but with personality traits characteristic for suicidal behavior

Lauterbach, Erik; Brunner, Jürgen; Hawellek, Barbara; Lewitzka, Ute; Ising, Marcus; Bondy, Brigitta; Rao, Marie Luise; Frahnert, Christine; Rujescu, Dan; Müller-Oerlinghausen, Bruno; Schley, Jürgen; Heuser, Isabella; Maier, Wolfgang; Hohagen, Fritz; Felber, Werner; Bronisch, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2005.11.016

« Previous Next »Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 91, Issue 1 , Pages 57-62, March 2006

Platelet 5-HT_2A receptor binding and tryptophan availability in depression are not associated with recent history of suicide attempts but with personality traits characteristic for suicidal behavior

Erik Lauterbach
- University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 451 500 2441; fax: +49 451 500 2791.
Jürgen Brunner
- Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 10, D-80804 München, Germany
Barbara Hawellek
- University of Bonn, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Sigmund-Freud-Straβe 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany
Ute Lewitzka
- Technical University of Dresden, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Fetscherstraβe 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Marcus Ising
- Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 10, D-80804 München, Germany
Brigitta Bondy
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Department of Psychiatry, Nuβbaumstraβe 7, 80336 München, Germany
Marie Luise Rao
- University of Bonn, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Sigmund-Freud-Straβe 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany
Christine Frahnert
- University of Bonn, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Sigmund-Freud-Straβe 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany
Dan Rujescu
- Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Department of Psychiatry, Nuβbaumstraβe 7, 80336 München, Germany
Bruno Müller-Oerlinghausen
- Drug Commission of the German Medical Association, Jebensstraβe 3, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Jürgen Schley
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin Klinik, und Hochschulambulanz für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie and Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology Eschenallee 3, 14050 Berlin, Germany
Isabella Heuser
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin Klinik, und Hochschulambulanz für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie and Laboratory of Clinical Psychopharmacology Eschenallee 3, 14050 Berlin, Germany
Wolfgang Maier
- University of Bonn, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Sigmund-Freud-Straβe 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany
Fritz Hohagen
- University of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
Werner Felber
- Technical University of Dresden, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Fetscherstraβe 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Thomas Bronisch
- Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstr. 10, D-80804 München, Germany

Received 23 August 2005; received in revised form 25 November 2005; accepted 28 November 2005.

Abstract

Background

Abnormalities in the serotonergic (5-HT) system have been implicated in the pathogenesis of suicidal behavior. Studies on peripheral serotonergic parameters as a measure for central serotonergic function in suicidal patients appear to be promising, yet failed to show a clear association with suicidality. The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of serotonergic blood parameters in depressed suicidal patients and to examine their usefulness as a potential biological marker for suicidality. A number of personality traits were assessed in order to provide a basis for a psychobiological model of suicidal behavior.

Methods

Depressed patients with a recent suicide attempt (SA; n=59) were compared to those without history of suicide attempts (NSA; n=28). 5-HT_2A receptor binding in platelets and tryptophan/amino acid ratio in plasma were measured. Acute psychopathology and personality traits as well as characteristics of suicide attempts were assessed.

Results

There was no significant difference between SA and NSA in terms of peripheral serotonergic parameters as well as personality traits. However, the whole sample showed associations between certain personality traits and serotonergic platelet parameters. Furthermore, we observed a relation between suicidal ideation, lethality of suicide attempts and peripheral serotonergic markers.

Limitations

The number of cases with data on peripheral markers is relatively low. The potential influence of antidepressant medication previous to study inclusion has to be taken into account. The study focussed on depressed patients only.

Conclusions

Low serotonergic function is involved in the pathogenesis of suicidality, whereas the use of platelet 5-HT_2A receptor activity and tryptophan availability as biological markers for suicidality in depressed patients could not be proven an appropriate tool. Alterations in the serotonergic system are associated with trait aggression and other character dimensions.

Keywords: Suicidal behavior, 5-HT_2A receptor binding, Trytophan ratio, Personality traits