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Pharmacopsychiatry 1995; 28(2): 45-50
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-979587
Original Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

The Concentration of Neurotransmitter Metabolites in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Suicidal Individuals: a Meta-Analysis

D. Lester
  • Center for the Study of Suicide, Blackwood, New Jersey, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2007 (online)

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Abstract

A review of 27 research reports on the cerebrospinal fluid levels of neurotransmitter metabolites involving 1202 psychiatric patients found strong evidence for the involvement of the serotonin system in suicidal behavior. Attempted suicides, especially those using violent methods, had lower levels of CSF 5-HIAA as compared to psychiatric controls, and those making subsequent suicidal actions also had lower levels of CSF 5-HIAA. The metaanalysis permitted more reliable conclusions to be drawn than did each individual study alone.

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