Red-Cell and Serum Folate Levels in Depressed Inpatients who Commit Violent Suicide: A Comparison with Control Groups

M. Wolfersdorf; F. Keller; V. Maier; W. Fröscher; W. P. Kaschka

doi:10.1055/s-2007-979594

Pharmacopsychiatry, Table of Contents

Pharmacopsychiatry 1995; 28(3): 77-79
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-979594

Original Paper

Red-Cell and Serum Folate Levels in Depressed Inpatients who Commit Violent Suicide: A Comparison with Control Groups

M. Wolfersdorf¹ , F. Keller¹ , V. Maier² , W. Fröscher³ , W. P. Kaschka¹

¹Weissenau State Mental Hospital, Department of Psychiatry University of Ulm, Acute Psychiatry and Depression Treatment Ward, Ravensburg-Weißenau, Germany
²Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulm, Germany
³Department of Neurology, Weißenau State Mental Hospital, Ravensburg-Weißenau, Germany

Abstract

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Abstract

There has been some discussion in the recent literature regarding the possible relationship between peripheral levels of folate and serotonin deficiency in the CNS. At the same time, such a serotonin deficiency has been implicated in the biology of suicidal behavior. Thus, decreased peripheral folate levels may be expected in patients who commit violent suicide. In this study, the red-cell and serum folate levels in nine persons who later committed suicide are compared with those in age- and sex-matched control groups. A one-way analysis of variance showed no significant difference between the groups.

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