title: Melatonin and cortisol secretion in patients with primary obsessive-compulsive disorder.
abstract: Plasma levels of melatonin and cortisol were measured over a 24-hour period in seven patients with primary obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and seven matched healthy control subjects. In OCD patients, the 24-hour secretion of melatonin was reduced as compared with that in healthy control subjects, whereas its circadian rhythm was preserved. In addition, in OCD patients, the overall secretion of cortisol was higher than that in control subjects, but there was no change in the circadian pattern of cortisol secretion. No correlation was found between clinical parameters and hormone levels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, First Medical School, University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Catapano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monteleone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuschino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maj
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kemali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin; D006854:Hydrocortisone