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Neuroactive steroids and suicidality in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Butterfield, MI; Stechuchak, KM; Connor, KM; Davidson, JRT; Wang, C; MacKuen, CL; Pearlstein, AM; Marx, CE
Published in: Am J Psychiatry
February 2005

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies suggest that neuroactive steroids may be altered in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since high rates of suicidality accompany PTSD, the authors investigated neuroactive steroid levels and correlations to suicide attempts in veterans with this disorder. METHOD: Male veterans with PTSD enrolled in a larger study during inpatient hospitalization (N=130) were assessed for suicidal ideation or suicide attempt in the last 6 months. Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, testosterone, and estradiol were determined. The authors investigated associations between neuroactive steroids and suicidality. RESULTS: High rates of suicidality were observed. Close to 70% of these patients had suicidal thoughts, and 25% had attempted suicide in the last 6 months. Patients who had attempted suicide demonstrated significantly higher median DHEA levels than those who had not attempted suicide (15.6 versus 8.3 ng/ml), an association that persisted after adjustment for age. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that higher DHEA levels may be linked to suicidality in veterans with PTSD and may be associated with the risk of self-harm.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0002-953X

Publication Date

February 2005

Volume

162

Issue

2

Start / End Page

380 / 382

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • Testosterone
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Suicide
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Self-Injurious Behavior
  • Psychiatry
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Butterfield, M. I., Stechuchak, K. M., Connor, K. M., Davidson, J. R. T., Wang, C., MacKuen, C. L., … Marx, C. E. (2005). Neuroactive steroids and suicidality in posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry, 162(2), 380–382. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.2.380
Butterfield, Marian I., Karen M. Stechuchak, Kathryn M. Connor, Jonathan R. T. Davidson, Chungsheng Wang, Courteney L. MacKuen, Anne M. Pearlstein, and Christine E. Marx. “Neuroactive steroids and suicidality in posttraumatic stress disorder.Am J Psychiatry 162, no. 2 (February 2005): 380–82. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.2.380.
Butterfield MI, Stechuchak KM, Connor KM, Davidson JRT, Wang C, MacKuen CL, et al. Neuroactive steroids and suicidality in posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2005 Feb;162(2):380–2.
Butterfield, Marian I., et al. “Neuroactive steroids and suicidality in posttraumatic stress disorder.Am J Psychiatry, vol. 162, no. 2, Feb. 2005, pp. 380–82. Pubmed, doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.162.2.380.
Butterfield MI, Stechuchak KM, Connor KM, Davidson JRT, Wang C, MacKuen CL, Pearlstein AM, Marx CE. Neuroactive steroids and suicidality in posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2005 Feb;162(2):380–382.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0002-953X

Publication Date

February 2005

Volume

162

Issue

2

Start / End Page

380 / 382

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • Testosterone
  • Suicide, Attempted
  • Suicide
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Self-Injurious Behavior
  • Psychiatry
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans