title: Low levels of MHPG in depressive spectrum patients.
abstract: There is some preliminary laboratory support for the proposed classification of depressed patients into depressive spectrum disease (DSD) and non-DSD. This study explores whether there is a difference in the levels of the norepinephrine metabolite, MHPG, in DSD and non-DSD patients. MHPG levels from 38 DSD patients were compared with 24 non-DSD patients. After controlling for the influence of age and gender on MHPG, the DSD patients had MHPG levels that were lower than non-DSD patients; 1655 +/- 90 mg/day vs. 1965 +/- 174 mg/day, respectively; P = 0.05. This study provides additional laboratory support for the DSD subtype. Possible implications of this finding are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, VA Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Garvey
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Tuason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000652:urine; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000652:urine*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000652:urine; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D009638:Norepinephrine