Comparison of serum oxytocin, lipid and salivary cortisol levels of adolescents with suicide attempt and suicidal ideation with healthy controls

The aim of our study was to compare serum oxytocin, lipid and salivary cortisol levels in adolescents aged 12-18 years with suicide attempt and suicidal ideation with healthy controls and to examine whether these biological markers can be considered as potential risk factors. It was also aimed to compare depression, anxiety and impulsivity levels of these groups. The study included 26 adolescents who had attempted suicide in the last three months, 26 adolescents with only suicidal ideation, and 25 healthy adolescents with no history of suicide. All participants completed a sociodemographic data form and were evaluated with the Depression Scale for Children (DSC), Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 (BIS-11) and STAI I-II State-Trait Anxiety Scale. For the analysis of biological markers, venous blood and saliva samples were taken from the participants. Serum oxytocin levels were determined by ELISA method, lipid profile levels were determined by colorimetric enzyme method and salivary cortisol levels were determined by ECLIA method. Our findings showed that depression, anxiety and impulsivity levels of adolescents with suicide attempt and suicidal ideation were statistically significantly higher than healthy controls (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of serum oxytocin, lipid profile and salivary cortisol levels (p>0.05). These findings suggest that psychological factors play a critical role in the assessment of suicide risk and that depression, anxiety and impulsivity are closely related to suicidal behaviour. Considering that suicidal behaviour is a multifactorial and complex process, it is important to conduct multicentre and longitudinal studies with larger samples in order to reveal the potential role of biomarkers in suicide risk assessment in a more comprehensive manner. In addition, the increase in multidisciplinary studies examining genetic, neurobiological and environmental factors together may contribute to the development of more effective strategies for early detection and prevention of suicide. Key Words: Suicide Attempt, Suicidal Ideation, Oxytocin, Lipid, Cortisol