In March 2003 the Chinese edition of Scientific American magazine published an article entitled "Suicide: Why Do They Do It?," which pointed out that research by American scientists has shown that a type of neurotransmitter in the brain-serotonin-is related to emotional stability in humans, and that people suffering from depression who exhibit aggressive behavior, as well as people with compulsive and obsessive personalities, have lower levels of serotonin than normal people.
二○○三年三月中文版「科學人」雜誌在「自殺──他們為什麼要這麼做？」這篇報導中指出，美國科學家的研究顯示，大腦中的一種神經傳導物質──血清素，和人類的情緒安定有關，憂鬱症、出現攻擊行為、衝動人格、強迫症患者的腦中血清素含量都比正常人低。