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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: [email protected] (J.K. Rybakowski).
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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

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