Leo Sher, M.D.

My article, “Testosterone and suicidal behavior in women” has been published in the QJM: An International Journal of Medicine online ahead of print (1). A summary of my article is below:

Testosterone may affect mood and behavior in women. Depression is closely associated with suicidal behavior. Five studies of the relation between testosterone and suicidality in women have been performed (2-6). It is difficult to compare the results of these studies because the methods are very different. It is possible that testosterone is involved in the pathophysiology of suicidality in women. Studies of the biological mechanisms of suicide in women may lead to improvements in diagnosing suicidality and identification of new pharmacological targets to reduce suicidality.

References

1. Sher L. Testosterone and suicidal behavior in women. QJM. 2025 Jun 23:hcaf140. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcaf140. Epub ahead of print.
2. Sher L, Grunebaum MF, Sullivan GM, Burke AK, Cooper TB, Mann JJ, Oquendo MA. Association of testosterone levels and future suicide attempts in females with bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord. 2104;166:98-102. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.04.068. Epub 2014 May 5.
3. Zhang J, Jia CX, Wang LL. Testosterone differs between suicide attempters and community controls in men and women of China. Physiol Behav. 2015;141:40-5. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.01.004. Epub 2015 Jan 8.
4. de Wit AE, De Boer MK, Bosker FJ, van der Does AJW, Gooren LJG, Nolen WA, Penninx BWJH, Schoevers RA, Giltay EJ. Associations of plasma androgens with suicidality among men and women: A 9-year longitudinal cohort study. J Affect Disord. 2020;269:78-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.032. Epub 2020 Mar 18.
5. Akan M, Ayaz N, Çağatay Taşkapan M, Bulut N, Gönenir Erbay L. The relationship between suicide attempt and gonadotropins, gonadal hormones, and cortisol in females. Alpha Psychiatry. 2021;22(5):230-236. doi: 10.1530/alphapsychiatry.2021.21237.
6. Klemenčić A, Herceg M, Herceg D, Puljić K, Sisek-Šprem M. Influence of serum testosterone level on aggression in women with schizophrenia. Psychiatr Danub. 2021; 33(Suppl 4):511-517.