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Neuroendocrine risk factors of suicidal behavior

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.139.10.1323

Three of 22 subjects in a study of neuroendocrine correlates of clinical change made serious suicide attempts, 2 of which were lethal. The suicidal subjects had significantly higher 24-hour urinary cortisol levels and significantly lower 24-hour urinary norepinephrine-to- epinephrine ratios than the nonsuicidal patients had. Although the cortisol finding confirms earlier reports, the norepinephrine-to- epinephrine ratio finding is new. The results support the concept that the clinical utility of neuroendocrine measures is enhanced by using a multihormonal profile.

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