Higher testosterone linked to opposite suicide risks for older men and women

A study published in the journal Journal of Affective Disorders suggests that testosterone may have opposite effects on suicide risk for older men and women. While higher testosterone levels seem to protect older men from suicidal thoughts and behaviors, elevated testosterone actually raises the risk in older women. The research, led by Han Wang and Qian Zhao from Beijing Anding Hospital and Capital Medical University in China, analyzed medical records of 805 patients who were treated for severe depression between 2013 and 2020.

Out of these 805 patients, 382 had documented suicidal ideation or behaviors when admitted to the hospital. The researchers adjusted the testosterone levels for sex differences, finding that for older men, higher relative testosterone levels were linked to a lower risk of suicidality. Each standard increase in testosterone corresponded to a 7.6% reduction in the likelihood of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, equating to an absolute risk reduction of about 7.6 percent in an average older man.

Conversely, for older women, higher testosterone levels were associated with a 4.5% higher likelihood of suicidality. The study also found that alcohol consumption strongly increased suicide risk in men, physical illness in women, and recent stressful life events were equally associated with elevated suicide risk in both sexes. However, it is important to note that this was an observational study, meaning it cannot prove a direct causal link between testosterone levels and suicidality.

The participants were all inpatients with severe depression, which limits the generalizability of the findings to older adults with milder depression or those receiving outpatient care. Future studies should track hormone levels and depressive symptoms over longer periods to better understand the long-term implications of testosterone changes on suicide risk.