Lipids, aggression, suicidality and impulsivity in drug-naïve/drug-free patients of schizophrenia

Low cholesterol levels in children predict impulsivity in young adulthood

“…In patients with schizophrenia (Mensi et al, 2016) and major depressive episode ((Messaoud et al, 2017) low levels of total cholesterol have been proposed as surrogate markers for impulsivity and suicidality. In schizophrenic patients LDL cholesterol levels have been recommended as a potential marker (Kavoor et al, 2017). The results of the current study are in agreement with works showing that LDL and total cholesterol, rather than HDL cholesterol, are predictive of impulsivity, but this could vary within specific patient groups.…”

Disentangling the relationship between cholesterol, aggression, and impulsivity in severe mental disorders

“…The literature on cholesterol and aggression in psychiatric populations is conflicting. Several studies have shown inverse associations between TC and aggression (Hillbrand et al., 1995; Mufti et al., 1998; Paavola et al., 2002; Roaldset et al., 2011; Suneson et al., 2019) or impulsivity (Kavoor et al., 2017; Troisi, 2011), whereas other studies have reported no significant associations between TC and aggression (Apter et al., 1999; Eriksen et al., 2017; Huang & Wu, 2000; Kavoor et al., 2017; Steinert et al., 1999) or impulsivity (Apter et al., 1999). Importantly, these were observational studies, and the findings may represent reverse causality with cholesterol levels reflecting the severity of distress among specific psychiatric populations.…”

“…Cholesterol and adverse mental symptoms have been investigated over the past three decades in a number of smaller‐to‐medium scaled studies in psychiatric settings (Apter et al., 1999; De Berardis et al., 2013; Eriksen, Bjorkly, Lockertsen, Faerden, & Roaldset, 2017; Huang & Wu, 2000; Kavoor, Mitra, Kumar, Sisodia, & Jain, 2017; Mufti, Balon, & Arfken, 1998; Roaldset, Bakken, & Bjorkly, 2011; Steinert, Woelfle, & Gebhardt, 1999; Suneson et al., 2019; Troisi, 2011; Wu et al., 2016), often showing inverse associations between TC and degree of aggression, impulsivity, or suicidality. Moreover, low TC has been associated with more frequent acts of aggression in forensic psychiatric populations (Hillbrand, Spitz, & Foster, 1995; Paavola, Repo‐Tiihonen, & Tiihonen, 2002).…”

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and suicidal behaviour in a large sample of first-episode psychosis patients

“…Regarding the second hypothesis, we failed to find significant relationship between low lipoprotein concentrations and more violent suicide methods. Although few studies have analysed the relationship between low serum lipid concentrations and violent suicidal behaviours in schizophrenic patients, significant relationship between low levels of TC, LDL-c (Kavoor et al 2017) and leptin (Atmaca et al 2008) and more violent suicide methods have been reported. The potential mechanism linking the lipid profile abnormality and elevated suicide risk/impulsivity are still unknown.…”

“…Also, significant low TC was found in FEP patients with history of suicidal behaviour (Marcinko et al 2007). Indeed, Kavoor et al (2017) found that schizophrenic patients with lower TC, and LDL-c tended to act impulsively and that low lipid profile increased the risk of self-harming behaviours (Kavoor et al 2017). In a sample of 35 psychiatric patients, low TC and leptin levels were also associated with more violent suicide attempts (Atmaca et al 2008).…”