Screening of Biochemical Abnormalities in Suicide Attempters Irrespective of Psychiatric Diagnosis: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Empirical studies have documented the impact of membrane cholesterol on serotonergic function which might influence the suicidality in various psychiatric disorders. Most studies in last two decades demonstrated low cholesterol as potential predictor of suicidality in depression but trends of metabolic disorders and current status of hypercholesterolemia and biochemical abnormalities in suicidal spectrum population is scarce. Aim: The present study was aimed to comprehensively evaluate the blood levels of cholesterol and other biochemical abnormalities (serum electrolytes, proteins, blood pH etc.,) irrespective of any psychiatric disorders in suicide attempters. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 202 patients who visited our emergency hospital services with the suicidal attempt from 1st January 2019 till 31st December 2019 for a period of 12 Months. Blood evaluation and analysis were done on the same day of hospitalisation for complete blood counts, serum electrolytes, proteins and cholesterol levels. Clinical and standardised psychological evaluations for psychiatric diagnosis were performed. The results were analysed and compared using descriptive and inferential statistics based on SPSS software 21.01. Results: Out of 202 total suicide attempters, 120 (59.4%) were males and 82 (40.6%) were females with most patients 111 (54.9%) falling in the age range of 20-29; while 175 (86.6%) of patients had their first ever suicide or deliberate harm. A total of 169 (83.7%) of patients had normal complete blood counts but 106 (52.5%) showed acidic pH (<7.3) while only 5 (2.5%) of the patients had alkalosis. Serum potassium was abnormal in 43 (21.3%) patients. Further serum chloride was deranged in 13 (6.4%) while serum albumin was deranged in 17 (8.4%). About 27 (13.4%) found to have increased serum cholesterol and none of them had low cholesterol. Conclusion: Excessive and dampened reactivity of biomolecular parameters including hypercholesterolemia may modulate the neurobiological stress system associated with increased suicidality. This may be one of the predictors irrespective of the underlying psychiatric disorders.

Keywords

• biomolecular abnormalities
• cholesterol levels
• psychiatric disorders
• suicidality