Regional brain glucose uptake distinguishes suicide attempters from non-attempters in major depression

Abstract

This study compared regional cerebral metabolic rates of glucose (rCMRglu) determined by [(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in suicide attempters and non-attempters. Medication-free patients with major depression (n = 29) had FDG-PET after single-blind administration of placebo (day 1) and fenfluramine (day 2). Suicide attempt history was obtained before scanning and at assessments over 2 subsequent years. Statistical parametric mapping evaluated associations between attempt status and rCMRglu, controlling for age. The study included 13 patients with and 16 without a history of suicide attempt within 2 years before or after scanning. After placebo, rCMRglu in attempters was lower in right dorsolateral prefrontal regions and higher in ventromedial regions than in non-attempters. After fenfluramine, relatively hypometabolic areas enlarged, and no hypermetabolic areas were detected. Distinct rCMRglu patterns may be serotonin-sensitive biomarkers of suicide risk.