Plasma Beta-endorphin Levels and Suicidal Behavior

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, MONTPELLIER · Feb 29, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the relationship between a substance called beta-endorphin and suicidal behavior in individuals who have recently attempted suicide. Researchers believe that psychological pain linked to depression might be affected by the body's opioidergic system, which includes beta-endorphin. The study aims to measure the levels of beta-endorphin in patients who have been hospitalized for a suicide attempt within the last 72 hours and compare those levels to patients who are hospitalized for depression but have no history of suicide attempts.

To participate in this trial, individuals need to be between 18 and 65 years old and have a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Those who have recently attempted suicide and are hospitalized will be included, while those with certain mental health conditions, substance use issues, or specific health problems will not be eligible. Participants will have their blood tested for beta-endorphin levels at the start of the study and again about a week later. It's important to note that the trial is not yet recruiting participants, so there may be a wait before anyone can join.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• * Common inclusion criteria:
• • Aged between 18 and 65 years old,
• • Subject with a psychiatric diagnosis of current major depressive episode according to DSM-5 criteria
• • Able to understand the nature, purpose and methodology of the study
• • Specific inclusion criteria
• • Suicide attempters: Subject hospitalized for of proven suicide attempt (\<72h)
• • Affective controls: Subject hospitalized for a current major depressive episode according to DSM-5 criteria and without any lifetime history of suicidal behavior (proven, interrupted or aborted)
• • Non inclusion criteria
• • Diagnosis of bipolar disorder
• • Lifetime diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia or unspecified psychosis
• • Current diagnostic of illicit substance / alcohol use disorder within the last 6 months
• • Diabetes or obesity (BMI \> 29)
• • Inflammatory disease (e.g. Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis)
• • Receiving opiate treatment or opiate substitution treatment
• • Law protected ( guardianship or curatorship)
• • Deprived of liberty (by judicial or administrative decision or forced hospitalization)
• • Pregnant and breastfeeding women
• • Inability to understand, speak and write French
• • Refusal to participate in the study.
• • Not be affiliated to a French National Social Security System