Biomarcadores sanguíneos, de orina y conductas autolesivas e intentos de suicidio repetidos en los adolescentes

Abstract

There is partial evidence that elevated levels of blood β-endorphin are associated with suicidal addiction in adults, but hardly any data on adolescents. Blood β-endorphin, with an important role in addiction management mechanisms, can induce euphoria and happiness, reward and reinforce suicidal behavior. To test whether high repeaters of suicide attempts (5 or more suicide attempts) and self-injurious behaviors (20 or more episodes of self-injury) have higher biomarker levels, a sample of 43 patients aged 12-17 years attending the Psychiatric Emergency Department at the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda is recruited. Ten present 5 or more suicide attempts, 35 present 20 or more self-injurious episodes and 10 present both characteristics, and most of the adolescents meet addiction criteria for self-injury and suicide. The results suggest that all patients with addiction to suicide also had addiction to self-injury. Blood ACTH, cortisol and β-endorphin and urine cortisol levels were very elevated, but did not differentiate heavy repeaters from the rest of the adolescents.