Adrenal Gland Weight and Suicide

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine if there is an anatomical correlate, namely adrenal hypertrophy, among people who have commited suicide. The adrenal weights and other relevant information were collected prospectively from 118 consecutive coroner's cases of sudden death in the province of Ontario. No statistically significant difference was found between the adrenal weights of those who had committed suicide, whether violent or non violent, and those dying suddenly of causes not self-inflicted. This was true irrespective of the age of the subjects, their sex or the centre at which the autopsy was performed. This finding does not support the findings of an earlier report of increased adrenal weight in successful suicides. The incidental finding of increased adrenal weight in all subjects is of some significance.