title: Biogenic amine metabolites in delusional (psychotic) depression and melancholia subtypes of major depression.
abstract: 1. The levels of the urinary main metabolites of norepinephrine 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), of dopamine homovanillic acid (HVA) and of serotonin 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured in 84 patients with major depressive disorder, 34 delusional and 50 nondelusional. Melancholia subtype was also defined (N = 62). 2. MHPG was significantly higher in the delusional depressed group (p = 0.023). Female patients with delusional major depression also had significantly higher HVA excretion than female patients with non delusional major depression (p = 0.036). 5-HIAA excretion was similar in the two patient subgroups. 3. No significant differences in the three monoamine metabolites were found between the melancholic and nonmelancholic depressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lykouras
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markianos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hatzimanolis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malliaras
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanis
mesh_terms: D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines; D012701:Serotonin; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid