Relationship Between Attempted Suicide, Serum Cholesterol Level and Novelty Seeking in Psychiatric In-patients

This study compared the serum cholesterol levels of Irish psychiatric inpatients with & without recent suicidal behavior. The characteristic of novelty seeking was analyzed as an intermediary variable. Of the 155 inpatients included, 34 had recently attempted suicide. Significantly lower average cholesterol levels were found in women who had attempted suicide before hospitalization than for those who had not attempted. No significant differences were found among the men who participated. Novelty seeking was not confirmed as an intermediary factor. (25 refs) (SC)