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Leptin, Anxiety Symptoms, and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity among Drug-Free, Female Suicide Attempters

Ambrus, Livia LU and Westling, Sofie LU orcid (2019) In Neuropsychobiology 78(3). p.145-152
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of leptin secretion and functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may be involved in the pathophysiology of suicide. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown interactions between the HPA axis and leptin. There is also evidence for a negative relationship between leptin and anxiety in humans. However, these possible associations have not been studied in individuals with attempted suicide.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between leptin, HPA axis activity, and anxiety in individuals with a recent suicide attempt.

METHOD: Sixty-nine individuals with a recent suicide attempt (n = 37 females; n = 32 males) were recruited and subjected to the Dexamethasone Suppression Test... (More)

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of leptin secretion and functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may be involved in the pathophysiology of suicide. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown interactions between the HPA axis and leptin. There is also evidence for a negative relationship between leptin and anxiety in humans. However, these possible associations have not been studied in individuals with attempted suicide.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between leptin, HPA axis activity, and anxiety in individuals with a recent suicide attempt.

METHOD: Sixty-nine individuals with a recent suicide attempt (n = 37 females; n = 32 males) were recruited and subjected to the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST), lumbar puncture, and evaluation with the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale from which the Brief Scale for Anxiety (BSA) was derived. Leptin was analyzed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cortisol in serum. Leptin was corrected for body mass index (BMI) by dividing CSF-leptin by BMI (CSF-leptin/BMI). Due to gender-related differences in leptin secretion and HPA axis activity, calculations were made for males and females separately.

RESULTS: Significant differences were only found among females; CSF-leptin/BMI levels correlated significantly and negatively with BSA (p < 0.05), pre-DST cortisol, and post-DST serum cortisol at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, CSF-leptin/BMI was significantly lower in nonsuppressors of dexamethasone as compared to suppressors (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that in females with a recent suicide attempt, low CSF leptin may be related to symptoms of anxiety and a hyperactive HPA axis.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Neuropsychobiology
volume
78
issue
3
pages
8 pages
publisher
Karger
external identifiers
  • pmid:31189176
  • scopus:85067434979
ISSN
0302-282X
DOI
10.1159/000500737
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.
id
c2e40cd8-d81b-4ec5-bb48-999f7ab858db
date added to LUP
2019-06-14 07:35:33
date last changed
2024-04-30 12:58:01
@article{c2e40cd8-d81b-4ec5-bb48-999f7ab858db,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of leptin secretion and functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may be involved in the pathophysiology of suicide. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown interactions between the HPA axis and leptin. There is also evidence for a negative relationship between leptin and anxiety in humans. However, these possible associations have not been studied in individuals with attempted suicide.</p><p>OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between leptin, HPA axis activity, and anxiety in individuals with a recent suicide attempt.</p><p>METHOD: Sixty-nine individuals with a recent suicide attempt (n = 37 females; n = 32 males) were recruited and subjected to the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST), lumbar puncture, and evaluation with the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale from which the Brief Scale for Anxiety (BSA) was derived. Leptin was analyzed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cortisol in serum. Leptin was corrected for body mass index (BMI) by dividing CSF-leptin by BMI (CSF-leptin/BMI). Due to gender-related differences in leptin secretion and HPA axis activity, calculations were made for males and females separately.</p><p>RESULTS: Significant differences were only found among females; CSF-leptin/BMI levels correlated significantly and negatively with BSA (p &lt; 0.05), pre-DST cortisol, and post-DST serum cortisol at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. (all p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, CSF-leptin/BMI was significantly lower in nonsuppressors of dexamethasone as compared to suppressors (p &lt; 0.05).</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that in females with a recent suicide attempt, low CSF leptin may be related to symptoms of anxiety and a hyperactive HPA axis.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ambrus, Livia and Westling, Sofie}},
  issn         = {{0302-282X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{145--152}},
  publisher    = {{Karger}},
  series       = {{Neuropsychobiology}},
  title        = {{Leptin, Anxiety Symptoms, and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity among Drug-Free, Female Suicide Attempters}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000500737}},
  doi          = {{10.1159/000500737}},
  volume       = {{78}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}