PERSONALITY FACTOR CORRELATES OF GROWTH HORMONE AND HYPOTHERMIC RESPONSE TO BUSPIRONE CHALLENGE IN SUICIDAL SOLDIERS

The biological underpinnings of suicidal behaviour and possible rational pharmacotherapy of persons exhibiting such behaviour is the focus of this study. The study was conducted on 25 male Armed Forces personnel who attempted suicide and 25 matched healthy controls. Hypothermic and Growth Hormone response to Buspirone challenge was measured serially. 11 cases of attempted suicide had subsensitive postsynaptic 5 HT-1A receptors as indicated by blunted Growth Hormone response, while in other suicidal soldiers hypothermic response was markedly blunted indicating subsensitive presynaptic 5HT-IA receptors in the latter. Personality factor assessment carried out by 16 personality factor test, indicated overt extraversion marks for subsensitive postsynaptic 5 HT-IA receptors, while overt intraversion marks for subsensitive presynaptic 5 HT-IA receptors, in suicidal soldiers. In the light of the above, therapeutic options of Serotonin reuptake inhibition, agonist load at presynaptic 5 HT-IA and reciprocal stimulation of postsynatpic 5 HT-IA receptors for prevention of future attempts and completed suicides is discussed.