Abstract
BackgroundPatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have a high risk of suicide. Many pathophysiological factors involved in MDD and suicide such us a low cholesterol levels have been associated with MDD and increased vulnerability to suicide. In this study, we investigate the relation between lipid parameters and suicide risk in patients with MDD.MethodsPlasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) were determined in 160 patients meeting the DSM-IV-TR criteria for MDD (110 patients without suicidal behavior and 52 suicidal attempters) and 151 healthy controls.ResultsA significant decrease in plasma cholesterol levels was observed in the group of suicidal depressive patients compared to those without suicidal behavior (p < 0.001). For the other lipid levels (triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol), there were no significant differences between suicidal and non-suicidal patients.ConclusionsOur study showed a significant decrease in plasma cholesterol levels in suicidal patients. This result support the hypothesis of the association of low plasma cholesterol level and suicidal behavior in patients with major depressive disorder.
Highlights
Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have a high risk of suicide
Patients were classified into two groups: 110 patients with a major depressive episode (MDD) without suicidal behavior recruited during the consultations in the Department of Psychiatry of the University Hospital of Monastir; and 52 MDD suicide attempters recruited when admitted to the emergency department after a suicide attempt
Suicidal patients with major depressive disorder were significantly younger than patients without suicidal behavior (p < 0.001)
Summary
Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have a high risk of suicide. We investigate the relation between lipid parameters and suicide risk in patients with MDD. Studies using the technique of psychological autopsy found that more than 90% of suicidal patients are affected by one or more psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), at the time of the. In 2015, FTDES [5] recorded 549 cases of suicide and suicide attempts with an increase of 170.4% compared to 2014. This is an alarming and worrying phenomenon requiring an improvement in the strategies of prevention of this tragedy
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