Posted by linkadge on July 30, 2008, at 20:29:58
I have been reading about the association between suicide and increased responsivness of the presynaptic serotonin autoreceptor.
According to this study, people who commit suicide have a higher expression of the 5-ht1a autoreceptor.
http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/001768.html
But there is a problem. Another researcher seems to think that depression is due to decreased responsiveness of the serotonin autoreceptor. According to him, decreased activity of the 5-ht1a autoreceptor increases the release of serotonin in amygdala and enhances stress and anxiety responces, thus leading to depression.
These are contradictory theories, however I have one possable explaination. Perhaps the increase in serotonin autorecpetor level found in depressed suicide victoms is doing what the second study suggests it would, namely increase the feedback inhibiton upon serotonin release in the amygdala. I.e. perhaps the receptor expression found in the suicide victoms is reducing amygdala (fear) responces to the contemplation of suicide.
The reason I suggest this is because I know in myself, the only thing that keeps me from offing myself sometimes is the fear of negative consequences in an afterlife. I.e. I am too chicken to do it.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:843142
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080727/msgs/843142.html