Platelet Serotonin Level and Impulsivity in Human Self-destructive Behavior: A Biological and Psychological Study

• Published in: Journal of neurosciences in rural practice 2017-04, Vol.8 (2), p.199-203
• Main Authors: Dutta, S Era, Gupta, Sriniwas, Raju, M S V K, Kumar, Abhishek, Pawar, Alka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood platelets; Confidentiality; Enzymes; Females; Human behavior; Impulsivity; Males; Original; Psychological aspects; Risk factors; Self destructive behavior; Serotonin; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts
• ISSN: 0976-3147; 0976-3155
• DOI: 10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_425_16

Suicide is a disease and a global public health problem. Suicidology has come to become a topic of study for intervention and research. The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5HT]) system has remained a prime area of investigation. The neurons and platelets display structural and functional similarities. Ninety-nine percent of 5HT is contained in platelets, which shares similar 5HT uptake and release mechanisms with 5HT neurons. This study aims to study human self-destructive behavior (HSDB). Exploring the biological (serotonin levels in platelets) and psychological aspects (impulsivity) of attempted suicide or HSDB. Thirty-one patients, above the age of 18 years, with a recent history of HSDB, were studied and given an International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnosis, after a detailed interview. For the platelet 5HT estimation, blood samples were collected, and enzyme immunometric assay carried out. Detailed assessment of the impulsivity was done by the 25-item structured diagnostic interview for borderlines by Zanarini . We obtained both categorical and continuous data. Chi-square test, Fisher's test, Student's -test, and Pearson's product moment correlation were used. Female subjects outnumbered males by 2:1. Major depression, adjustment disorder, personality disorder were predominant diagnoses. The mean platelet serotonin concentration for males = 57.3 ng/ml, that of females = 56.05 ng/ml ( > 0.05). Platelet 5HT levels were found to be negatively correlated with impulsivity scores ( < 0.05). Platelet serotonin levels in our study sample were quite low when compared with those reported in published literature. Low serotonin levels were inversely related to impulsivity, but only in males.