title: CSF GABA in depressed patients and normal controls.
abstract: The inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Therefore, we examined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of GABA in depressed patients (N = 25) and normal controls (N = 20). There was no significant difference between the groups. However, among the depressed patients the subgroup of unipolar melancholic patients (N = 13) had significantly lower CSF levels of GABA than the rest of the depressed patients (N = 12). There was no significant difference for CSF levels of GABA between depressed patients who were (N = 14) or were not (N = 11) cortisol non-suppressors. It was of interest that among the controls there was a significant negative correlation between CSF levels of GABA and CSF levels of norepinephrine.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dejong
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferraro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012016:Reference Values; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid