Abstract
Background This study was carried out at Punjab Institute of Mental Health and Centre for Nuclear Medicine Mayo Hospital, Lahore. It is aimed at the possible association of thyroid malfunctioning with suicide attempts of patients. Objective Determination of thyroid function status of suicidal psychiatric patients and their comparison with psychiatric patients without suicide attempt or ideation. Methods Total 54 patients with either past history of suicide attempt or current suicidal ideation were selected for analysis of their thyroid function status (age 15-55 years). Age matched 50 non-suicide psychiatric patients were included for comparison. Results Two patients with suicide attempt had overt thyroid dysfunction. Remaining patients had serum FT4, FT3 and TSH level within normal range. Suicide attempter patients had lower FT4 but increased FT3 and TSH levels compared to suicidal ideation patients. Serum FT4 and TSH levels in suicidal patients were not different from psychiatric patients. Serum FT3 in suicidal patients was lower than psychiatric patients (3.7 ± 0.8 vs. 4.3 ± 0.5; p < 0.05). Female suicidal patients had lower FT3 levels compared to male patients (3.4 ± 0.6 vs. 3.9 ± 0.8 pmol/L; p < 0.05). Discussion Local suicidal patients have higher incidence of overt thyroid disorder and lower FT3 levels compared to non-suicidal psychiatric patients.
Highlights
Death is a bitter reality of human life everyone is scared of
Female suicidal patients had lower FT3 levels compared to male patients (3.4 ± 0.6 vs. 3.9 ± 0.8 pmol/L; p < 0.05)
The current study focuses on determination of serum levels of free thyroxin (FT4), free triidothyronine (FT3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the patients who undergo suicide attempts (SA) as well as suicide ideation (SI) and the obtained results are compared with psychiatric patients without suicide attempts or ideation
Summary
Death is a bitter reality of human life everyone is scared of. Mentally healthy persons never want to die. In the last 45 years, the world has seen 60% increase in the suicide attempts with a prediction that global suicide figures will potentially reach to 1.5 million mark by the year 20201,2 This shocking act of uncivilized behavior is attributed to the presence of a psychiatric disorder. This study was carried out at Punjab Institute of Mental Health and Centre for Nuclear Medicine Mayo Hospital, Lahore It is aimed at the possible association of thyroid malfunctioning with suicide attempts of patients. Suicide attempter patients had lower FT4 but increased FT3 and TSH levels compared to suicidal ideation patients. Discussion: Local suicidal patients have higher incidence of overt thyroid disorder and lower FT3 levels compared to non-suicidal psychiatric patients
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