title: Depression and Parkinson's disease: possible role of serotonergic mechanisms.
abstract: Depression is frequently encountered in Parkinson's disease and was seen to occur in 14 of 26 patients studied. The levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the main metabolite of serotonin (5-HT), in CSF samples of the patients were significantly lower than in those of controls. However, within the group of patients the levels of 5-HIAA in CSF samples were significantly lower in the depressive subgroup compared with the non-depressive patients. Moreover, no correlation was recorded between motor disability and depression. The results indicate that disturbed 5-HT metabolism may possibly play a role in Parkinson's disease as a predisposing factor in the development of depression.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid