Cited by 313Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesTreatment of Major DepressionNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Positron Emission Tomography of Regional Brain Metabolic Responses to a Serotonergic Challenge and Lethality of Suicide Attempts in Major Depression

Oquendo, Maria A., Placidi, Giovanni P. A., Malone, Kevin M., Campbell, Carl, Keilp, John, Brodsky, Beth, Kegeles, Lawrence S., Cooper, Thomas B. +3 more·2003·Archives of General Psychiatry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lower serotonergic activity correlates with high-lethality suicide attempts in major depression. Postmortem studies of serotonin receptors in suicides localize changes to the ventral prefrontal cortex (PFC). We studied serotonergic response in ventral PFC in depressed patients surviving a high-lethality suicide attempt. METHODS: Depressed patients with a history of a high-lethality suicide attempt (n = 16) were compared with those with low-lethality attempts (n = 9) for level of depression, suicidal intent and ideation, impulsivity, aggression, and neuropsychological test performance. Subjects were scanned while medication free after a single-blind placebo and after fenfluramine hydrochloride administration on a second day. Brain responses were measured by positron emission tomography imaging of fludeoxyglucose F 18 and serial prolactin levels. Scans were compared by means of statistical parametric mapping. Correlations of changes in relative regional cerebral uptake (rCMRglu) with clinical and neuropsychological measures were assessed. RESULTS: Depressed high-lethality suicide attempters had lower rCMRglu in ventral, medial, and lateral PFC compared with low-lethality attempters. This difference was more pronounced after fenfluramine administration. Lower ventromedial PFC activity was associated with lower lifetime impulsivity, higher suicidal intent (planning), and higher-lethality suicide attempts. Higher verbal fluency was positively correlated with rCMRglu in the same regions. CONCLUSIONS: Prefrontal localized hypofunction and impaired serotonergic responsivity are proportional to the lethality of the suicide attempt and may mediate the effects of suicide intent and impulsivity on lethality. Positron emission tomographic neuroreceptor studies are needed to determine whether postmortem serotonin receptor findings are also present in vivo and contribute to the abnormal rCMRglu responses.

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Crossref · 10.1001/archpsyc.60.1.14

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  • Serotonergic release deficits in the ventral PFC and ACC are more prominent in high-lethality suicidal behavior and suicide death.

    “4) serotonergic release deficits in the ventral PFC and ACC that are more prominent in high-lethality suicidal behavior and suicide death;”

    From A brain-centric model of suicidal behavior (2020) · cites this paper as [118]

  • Serotonin dysfunction is more prominent in higher-lethality suicidal behavior, indicating localized PFC hypofunction.

    “Serotonin dysfunction is more prominent in higher-lethality suicidal behavior (117), indicating localized PFC hypofunction (118).”

    From A brain-centric model of suicidal behavior (2020) · cites this paper as [118]

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Authors
Oquendo, M. A., Placidi, G. P. A., Malone, K. M., Campbell, C., Keilp, J., Brodsky, B., Kegeles, L. S., Cooper, T. B., Parsey, R. V., Van Heertum, R. L., & Mann, J. J.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University (US)
  • Columbia University Irving Medical Center (US)
Venue
Archives of General Psychiatry
Published
2003-01-01
Volume
60
Issue
1
Pages
14
ISSN
0003-990X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1966647036
Cited by
313
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 9
FWCI
16.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 62185, R01MH040695, MH 40695, P50MH062185)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR 00645, M01RR000645)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
major depressive disorder, suicide attempts, suicide lethality, fenfluramine, ventral prefrontal cortex, regional cerebral glucose metabolism, impulsivity, suicidal intent, verbal fluency, prolactin, serotonin receptors
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Brain, Depressive Disorder, Female, Fenfluramine, Glucose, Humans, Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid, Impulsive Behavior, Male, Prolactin, Receptors, Serotonin, Serotonin, Suicide, Attempted, Tissue Distribution, Tomography, Emission-Computed, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Prefrontal Cortex, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18

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