Contemporary Patterns of Formation of Suicidal Behavior in Patients with Depressive Disorders

Abstract

Aims

The research wasdesigned to study the contemporary patterns of suicidal behavior in patientswith depressive disorders.

Objectives

Itwas conducted comprehensive examination of 155 patients of both genders, aged 18–35 years with anestablished diagnosis of depressive disorders which contained various forms ofsuicidal behavior.

Methods

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and the Hospital Anxiety andDepression Scale, Biochemical tests.

Results

Symptoms of phobia andanxiety which correlated with affective disorders (dysthymia, recurrent depressive episode) and posttraumatic stress disorder in menpotentiated the risk of suicidal behavior.

The results of biochemical tests showed that patients withsuicidal behavior have an increase of the concentration of serotonin in theblood, reducing the level of melatonin in the plasma and the decrease of therate of excretion of adrenaline and norepinephrine in the night and dayperiods.

In patients with high levels of depression according to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depressionand other scales of depression were found the maximum increase of the concentration of serotonin inthe blood and the lowest level of melatonin in the plasma.

It can be concluded thatthe neuroendocrine regulation of suicidal behavior is triggered by a reductionof melatonin, which lead to a decrease of catecholamine excretion.

Conclusions

The present study allowed us todevelop a comprehensive pathogenetic based complex system of correction ofsuicidal behavior during the acute stress reactions, which includes thecombined use of medication and psychotherapy .