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Loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP) in clinical monitoring of suicidal patients with major depression: a pilot study

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Abstract

Loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP) is a validated in vivo marker of central serotonergic function. We aimed at measuring serotonergic activity in a follow-up study of suicidal patients. It should be investigated whether suicide attempts or suicidal states cause changes in the LDAEP. Thirteen patients (mean age, 40.9 ± 11.3 years; age range, 20–61, 6 male) with a major depressive episode who had attempted suicide or had suicidal plans (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale item 3 [suicidality] ≥3) were included in the study. LDAEP and psychometric measurements took place about 2, 5, 9 and 16 days after attempted suicide or suicidal action. On day 9, LDAEP was significantly higher compared to day 2 and day 16; there was a similar tendency compared to day 5. Instability of central serotonergic function is suggested resulting in reduced serotonergic activity about 1 week after suicide attempt. Further studies are necessary that include larger samples in order to distinguish between different psychiatric diseases and to consider confounding factors like gender, smoking, medication, impulsivity or lethality of suicidal action.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by FoRUM, the competitive research programme of the Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum (Az: F518-06).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, LWL University Hospital Bochum, Alexandrinenstrasse 1-3, 44791, Bochum, Germany

    Idun Uhl, Franciska Illes, Vanessa Graßnickel, Christine Norra & Georg Juckel

  2. LWL Hospital Herten, Im Schlosspark 20, 45699, Herten, Germany

    Silke Echterhoff

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  1. Idun Uhl
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  2. Franciska Illes
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  3. Vanessa Graßnickel
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  4. Silke Echterhoff
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  5. Christine Norra
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  6. Georg Juckel
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Correspondence to Idun Uhl.

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Uhl, I., Illes, F., Graßnickel, V. et al. Loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP) in clinical monitoring of suicidal patients with major depression: a pilot study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 262, 487–492 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-012-0297-8

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