Year: 1984 Source: American Journal of Psychiatry, v.141, no.4, (April 1984), p.566-569 SIEC No: 19842185

Concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the lumbar CSF were measured in a group of suicidal schizophrenic patients and in a matched group of nonsuicidal schizophrenic patients. The suicidal group had a significantly lower level. This finding is consistent with reports of low levels of CSF 5-HIAA in suicidal patients with other psychiatric diagnoses & suggests that low CSF 5-HIAA may be a generalized marker of aggressive behavior against the self & others.