Platelet serotonin concentration and suicidal behavior in combat related posttraumatic stress disorder

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Zrnka Kovačić
• Author: Neven Henigsberg
• Author: Nela Pivac
• Author: Gordana Nedić
• Author: Andrea Borovečki
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences

Abstract (english)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious and global problem, a psychiatric disorder that frequently occurs with different comorbidities, and is associated with a high suicide rate. Pathophysiologically, both PTSD and suicidal behavior are related to disturbances in the central serotonergic system. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) controls emotional behavior, anxiety, impulsivity and aggression, and nearly all known antidepressants and antianxiety drugs affect 5-HT transmission. Platelet 5-HT can be used as a limited peripheral marker of the central serotonergic synaptosomes, since it is related to particular basic psychopathological characteristics of several psychiatric disorders. Platelet 5-HT concentration has been reported to be similar in PTSD subjects and healthy controls, but suicidal patients across different psychiatric diagnoses have reduced platelet 5-HT concentration. This study examined platelet 5-HT concentration by the spectrofluorimetric method in male subjects: 73 suicidal and 47 non-suicidal veterans with current and chronic combat related PTSD, 45 suicidal and 30 non-suicidal comparative non-PTSD subjects and 147 healthy men. The presence of suicidal behavior (score=0, non-suicidal; scores >/=1, suicidal) was assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS). Platelet 5-HT concentration was significantly lower in suicidal PTSD and non-PTSD patients compared to non-suicidal patients or healthy controls. Since the majority of patients scored very low on item 3 of HDRS, no significant correlation between suicidal scores and platelet 5-HT concentration was found. These results show that reduced platelet 5-HT concentration is related to suicidal behavior in PTSD, and suggest that platelet 5-HT concentration might be used as a peripheral marker to predict suicidal behavior across psychiatric diagnoses.

• Keywords (english): Blood Platelets - chemistry; Combat Disorders - blood - diagnosis - psychology; Serotonin - blood; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - blood - diagnosis - psychology; Suicide - psychology - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological Markers - blood; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - statistics & numerical data; Sex Factors; Veterans - statistics & numerical data
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Accepted version
• Journal title: Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
• Numbering: vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 544-551
• p-ISSN: 0278-5846
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2007.10.014
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:745820
• Publication: 2008-02-15
• Document URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2007.10.014
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-28 09:59:55