Dexamethasone Suppression Test May Predict More Severe/Violent Suicidal Behavior.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Several studies demonstrated that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is dysregulated in suicide attempters. Prospective studies found that people with an abnormal response at the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) are more likely to commit suicide. However, whether DST may predict suicide attempts remains less clear. A possible strategy to address this question is to consider the suicide attempt lethality.

Objectives

(1) To compare the pre- and post-DST cortisol levels in serious/violent suicide attempters and in non-serious/non-violent suicide attempters, and (2) to investigate whether cortisol level can predict new suicide attempts or their lethality.

Methods

The study included 70 recent suicide attempters (25 with a serious or violent atte

SUBMITTER: Alacreu-Crespo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7065044 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature