Hair Stress Hormones in Individuals with a Recent Suicide Attempt Experiencing a Depressive Episode

    December 2025 in “ Neurobiology of Stress ”
    Lejla Colic, Anna Karoline Seiffert, Lydia Bahlmann, Ani Zerekidze, Johanna Walther, Larissa McClain, Bianca Besteher, Fabricio Pereira, Mocrane Abbar, Martin Walter, Fabrice Jollant, Gerd Wagner
    TLDR People who recently attempted suicide during depression showed signs of adrenal fatigue, but had higher DHEA levels around the attempt time.
    This study examined hair stress hormones in individuals with a recent suicide attempt (SA) during a depressive episode, comparing them to depressed individuals without SA history and healthy controls. The study involved 131 participants, with hair samples analyzed from 75 participants. Results indicated that individuals with recent SA exhibited HPA axis hypoactivity, with lower levels of hair glucocorticoids and DHEA, suggesting adrenal fatigue. However, contrary findings showed significantly higher DHEA levels in the SA group around the time of the attempt, especially in those with multiple attempts. No significant interaction effects were found for cortisol or DHEA levels across groups, but a marginal interaction effect for cortisone was observed. The study highlights the complexity of stress hormone levels in suicidal behavior and suggests the need for further research with larger samples to understand the role of DHEA in stress response and suicidal behavior.
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