Lack of association between testosterone and suicide attempts.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether testosterone levels differ in male suicide attempters versus healthy controls and to explore the associations between testosterone levels and time of blood collection, and between testosterone levels and characteristics of suicide attempts. METHOD: A sample of 112 male suicide attempters was studied. Thirty-seven male blood donors were recruited as controls. RESULTS: The mean testosterone levels were 5.1 ± 2.9 ng/ml in male attempters and 4.6 ± 1.6 ng/ml in controls. Group differences in testosterone levels were not significant when we studied the interaction with time of extraction (F = 0.37; d.f. = 2; p = 0.70) or when matched by age and time of extraction (t = -0.74; d.f. = 26; p = 0.47). When partial correlations were performed correcting for the effect of time of extraction, significant partial correlations were found in testosterone levels with history of aggressive behavior and lethality of the attempt. CONCLUSIONS: When circadian variation and age were considered, we found no support for the putative role of testosterone as a biological marker of suicidal behavior. Further research should consider: (1) testosterone and neurosteroids; (2) serial determinations with a minimal time gap between the attempt and the blood extraction; (3) controls within the same time periods, and (4) other variables that may affect testosterone levels, such as body mass index, physical activity and sleep disturbances.

Patterns of mental health service utilization in a general hospital and outpatient mental health facilities: analysis of 365,262 psychiatric consultations.

PURPOSE: Mental health is one of the priorities of the European Commission. Studies of the use and cost of mental health facilities are needed in order to improve the planning and efficiey of mental health resources. We analyze the patterns of mental health service use in multiple clinical settings to identify factors associated with high cost. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 22,859 patients received psychiatric care in the catchment area of a Spanish hospital (2000-2004). They had 365,262 psychiatric consultations in multiple settings. Two groups were selected that generated 80% of total costs: the medium cost group (N = 4,212; 50% of costs), and the high cost group (N = 236; 30% of costs). Statistical analyses were performed using univariate and multivariate techniques. Significant variables in univariate analyses were introduced as independent variables in a logistic regression analysis using "high cost" (>7,263$) as dependent variable. RESULTS: Costs were not evenly distributed throughout the sample. 19.4% of patients generated 80% of costs. The variables associated with high cost were: age group 1 (0-14 years) at the first evaluation, permanent disability, and ICD-10 diagnoses: Organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders; Mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use; Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders; Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors; External causes of morbidity and mortality; and Factors influencing health status and contact with health services. DISCUSSION: Mental healthcare costs were not evenly distributed throughout the patient population. The highest costs are associated with early onset of the mental disorder, permanent disability, organic mental disorders, substance-related disorders, psychotic disorders, and external factors that influence the health status and contact with health services or cause morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: Variables related to psychiatric diagnoses and sociodemographic factors have influence on the cost of mental healthcare.

Síndrome confusional tras interrupción brusca de consumo de nicotina / delirium after interruption of nicotine consumption

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