To estimate postmortem prolactin levels in cases of completed suicides and find if the postmortem prolactin levels are raised and associated with antemortem stress in completed suicides. Material and Methods: The present research was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore during May and July 2010. Postmortem blood samples were collected from the right femoral vein of male victims of suicide before the start of the autopsy and in vitro quantitative analysis of non-hemolysed blood sample was done using the principle of electrochemiluminence. Most of the victims of suicide were aged between 30 and 49 years and hanging was the commonest method of suicide. Mean postmortem serum prolactin level was found to be marginally higher in suicidal deaths suggestive of a possible association of serum prolactin, stress and suicides.  The prolactin levels using postmortem blood samples in completed suicides were successfully determined. Our preliminary investigation is suggestive of a possible trend and an association of postmortem serum prolactin levels with antemortem stress and completed suicides. The association however is not strong and needs to be studied further in future studies.

Keywords: Suicides; Antemortem stress; Prolactin; Postmortem.