Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Lipids and essential fatty acids in patients presenting with self-harm. |
| Authors: |
Garland, Malcolm R., Hallahan, Brian, McNamara, Mairead, Carney, Philip A., Grimes, Helen, Hibbeln, Joseph R., Harkin, Andrew, Conroy, Ronan M. |
| Source: |
British Journal of Psychiatry. Feb2007, Vol. 190, p112-117. 6p. 4 Charts. |
| Subjects: |
Cholesterol, Essential fatty acids, Preventive medicine, Serotoninergic mechanisms, Psychometrics |
| Abstract: |
Background: Low cholesterol has been reliably demonstrated in people who self-harm.Aims: To determine whether people who self-harm also have low levels of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and to examine associations between the EFAs and serotonergic function.Method: Depression, impulsivity and suicidal intent were measured in patients with self-harm (n=40) and matched controls, together with plasma lipids and EFAs. Platelet serotonergic studies were carried out in a subgroup (n=27).Results: Patients with self-harm had significantly more pathology on all psychometric measures, lower mean total cholesterol levels (4.18 (s.d.=0.93) v. 4.87 (s.d.=0.83) mmol/l, P=0.003) and lower mean total EFA levels (89. 5 (15.6) v.103.7 (17.1) microg/ml, P=0.0001) than controls after adjustment for confounding variables. Total n-3 and n-6 EFA levels were also significantly lower. Impulsivity and depression scores were significantly inversely correlated with both n-6 EFAs and n-3 EFAs, but were not associated with total or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Platelet serotonergic measures did not differ between groups, and were not related to psychobiological measures.Conclusions: Lower plasma EFA levels combined with low cholesterol concentrations were associated with self-harm as well as impulsivity and affect. This was not related to platelet serotonergic measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
