Progesterone and adolescent suicidality (original) (raw)

Suicide attempts among women during low estradiol/low progesterone states

Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2010

The relationship between the menstrual cycle and risk for suicidal behaviors is not clear. The aim of this study is to determine whether perimenstrual phases in fertile women are associated with acute risk for suicide attempt and explore whether risk is elevated during low estradiol/low progesterone states. Women (N = 431) recruited within 24 h of a suicide attempt were assessed for psychopathology, suicidal behavior and LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone blood levels. Among fertile women (N = 281/431), suicide attempts were more likely to occur during menses (26%, 72/281 observed vs. 15%, 43/281 expected attempts; p < 0.001). Compared to women whose attempts occurred during other phases, women who attempted suicide during low estradiol/low progesterone states (menstrual phase, amenorrhea and menopause) reported severe suicide intent, a measure that may be predictive of eventual suicide death. Suicide attempts among women are more likely when estrogen and progesterone levels are low and attempts made under these conditions are associated with greater severity. Low gonadal hormone levels may constitute a key factor in the neurobiological basis of suicidal behavior among women, suggesting a novel, testable hypothesis regarding the underpinnings of suicidal acts.

Multi-Level Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation Among at-Risk Adolescent Females: The Role of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Responses to Stress

Journal of abnormal child psychology, 2014

Adopting a multi-level approach, this study examined risk factors for adolescent suicidal ideation, with specific attention to (a) hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stress responses and (b) the interplay between HPA-axis and other risk factors from multiple domains (i.e., psychological, interpersonal and biological). Participants were 138 adolescent females (M age = 14.13 years, SD = 1.40) at risk for suicidal behaviors. At baseline, lifetime suicidal ideation and a number of risk factors were assessed (i.e., depressive symptoms, impulsiveness, pubertal status and peer stress). Participants were exposed to a psychosocial stress task and HPA-axis responses were assessed by measuring cortisol levels pre- and post-stressor. At 3 months post-baseline, suicidal ideation again was assessed. Using group-based trajectory modeling, three groups of cortisol stress-response patterns were identified (i.e., hyporesponsive, normative, and hyperresponsive). As compared to females in the no...

The Relationship Between Suicide Attempt and Gonadotropins, Gonadal Hormones, and Cortisol in Females

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between suicidal behavior and gonadotropins, gonadal hormones, and cortisol in females. Methods: The study included 3 groups of 23 females each, aged 18-45 years; one group comprising those who had attempted suicide, another group of females matched for age, menstrual phase, and body mass index, with depression but no suicidal tendencies, and a control group of 23 healthy females. For all participants, a sociodemographic information form was completed, and the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Beck Hopelessness Scale were used. Blood samples were taken at 8 am (in the attempted-suicide group, within 24 hours of the attempt), and follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, and cortisol levels were measured. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups with respect to gonadotropin and gonadal hormone levels. There were statistically significant differences in the cortisol levels between the attempted suicide and control groups and between the depression and control groups (P < .05). The cortisol levels negatively correlated with all scale scores. Conclusion: Studies on suicidal patients should pay more attention to the potential role of hypocortisolism. More studies with larger samples are needed to investigate the relationship between gonadotropins, gonadal hormones, and suicidal behavior.

The Relationship Between Menstrual Cycle Phases and Suicide Attempts

Psychosomatic Medicine, 2000

The validity of prior studies on the menstrual cycle and suicide attempts assumes that suicidal women accurately describe their cycles. The three objectives of this study were 1) to explore whether prior inconsistencies are due to the effects of sample selection and method of assessment of the menstrual cycle, 2) to assess the relationship between the menstrual cycle phase and suicide attempts, and 3) to establish the role of sexual hormones in suicide attempts. Methods: The original sample included 134 women who came to the emergency room of a general hospital after a suicide attempt. One hundred eight female blood donors were recruited as control subjects. The menstrual cycle was divided into follicular, midcycle, and luteal phases using two clinical methods and serum hormonal assessment. Dividing the follicular phase into menstrual and nonmenstrual phases was also considered. Results: Two of 11 previously used sampling methods produced a sample size similar to that of the hormonal assessment. values between the two clinical and the endocrinological methods were low (0.40-0.50). The number of suicide attempts during the follicular phase (particularly during the menstrual phase) was significantly higher than expected. Conclusions: Despite the inability to control for other variables and limitations, the results of this study suggest that sample selection could introduce biases and that studies relating psychiatric symptomatology and menstrual cycle phases need to use hormonal determinations. New studies are needed to verify that suicide attempts are more frequent during the follicular phase (particularly during the menstrual phase).

Gender-Specific Risk Factors for Suicidality Among High School Students

Archives of Suicide Research, 2010

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Effects of acute estradiol and progesterone on perimenstrual exacerbation of suicidal ideation and related symptoms: a crossover randomized controlled trial

Translational Psychiatry, 2022

Female suicide attempts peak peri-menstrually-around the onset of menses-when the ovarian steroids estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) fall rapidly. Given preclinical evidence that withdrawal from either E2 or P4 can provoke behaviors consistent with elevated suicide risk, we hypothesized that withdrawal from one or both of these steroids contributes to perimenstrual exacerbation of suicidal ideation (SI) and related symptoms. In a randomized, controlled, double-blind crossover experiment (NCT03720847), a transdiagnostic sample of naturally cycling, medically healthy psychiatric outpatients reporting past-month SI completed two conditions during two different 14-day experimental intervals (days 7-20 where the luteinizing hormone surge = day 0), separated by a monthlong washout cycle. In the E2 and P4 (EP) condition, participants received transdermal E2 (0.1 mg/day) plus oral micronized P4 (200 mg/day as 100 mg twice daily) to buffer perimenstrual steroid withdrawal. A matched placebo (PBO) condition allowed natural perimenstrual steroid withdrawal. Participants reported daily SI and planning (primary outcomes) and indices of depression (low mood, hopelessness), threat sensitivity (anxiety, perceived stress), executive functioning (difficulty concentrating, impulsivity), and social cognitive bias (rejection sensitivity, perceived burdensomeness). In baseline cycles, no participant met prospective criteria for DSM-5 premenstrual dysphoric disorder, but 59% met all criteria except full follicular symptom remission, and 93% showed the highest SI in the perimenstrual phase. Of 29 randomized, 28 were analyzed (14 EP-PBO, 14 PBO-EP). Experimental administration of E2 and P4 (relative to PBO) reduced perimenstrual exacerbation of SI, suicide planning, depression, hopelessness, perceived stress, rejection sensitivity, and perceived burdensomeness, particularly in the perimenstrual (natural E2 and P4 withdrawal) days. Further, delayed withdrawal from experimental E2 and P4 (but not PBO) recapitulated SI, hopelessness, and rejection sensitivity. Acute perimenstrual withdrawal from ovarian steroids may play a causal role in perimenstrual worsening of depression and SI.

Further menstrual characteristics of suicide attemptors

Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1975

IN A recently published study [l] concerning the possible relationship between attempted suicide and phases of the menstrual cycle certain other aspects of menstruation were touched upon. These could not be further explored without knowledge of the menstrual characteristics of normal women. Subsequently a control sample has been amassed and the present study represents the extension of the investigation which these new data have made possible.

Correlates of Adolescent Suicidal Behavior

2009

Twenty-three variables of drug use, sexual behaviors, and risk-taking behaviors were analyzed to determine the best predictors of suicidal behavior. Eleven variables explain the relationship best, with seven drug-related, one sex-related, and three risk-related predictors. Findings are supportive and contrary to previous research. Adolescent Suicidal Behavior 3

Attempted suicide and the menstrual cycle— A negative conclusion

Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 1974

THE PRESENT paper aims to establish whether women attempt suicide more at certain times during the menstrual cycle than others. On the face of it it would seem a relatively simple matter to enquire after the menstrual dates of a reasonably large, unselected series of female suicide attempters and analyze their distribution.