A Prospective Study of the Association of Cerebrospinal Fluid Monoamine Metabolite Levels With Lethality of Suicide Attempts in Patients With Bipolar Disorder

27 bipolar depressed patients participated in this study. Demographic & clinical parameters were examined & recorded. Lumbar punctures were performed & CSF 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid, homovanillic acid, & 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Following discharge, patients were evaluated after 3 months, 1 year, & 2 years. Six subjects made suicide attempts during the 2-year follow-up. Bipolar patients who attempted suicide during the follow-up period had higher aggression & hostility scale scores compared to bipolar subjects who did not attempt suicide. Cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolite fluid levels were negative correlated with the maximum lethality of suicide attempts during the 2-year follow-up period. (73 refs.)