Aggression, suicide, and serotonin: relationships to CSF amine metabolites

Abstract

In a previous study, human aggression and suicide (a specific aggression-related behavior) were shown to be associated with lower levels of CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a serotonin metabolite. That study focused on subjects with personality disorders without affective illness. In the present study the life history of aggression and history of suicidal behavior was studied in 12 subjects with borderline personality disorders without major affective disorder. Histories of aggressive behaviors and of suicide attempts were significantly associated with each other, and each was significantly associated with lower 5-HIAA levels. Altered serotonin metabolism may be a highly significant contributing factor to these behaviors in whatever diagnostic group they occur.