Plasma norepinephrine response to a cold pressor test in subtypes of depressive illness.
Noradrenergic systems have been shown to be disordered in depressive illness. The plasma norepinephrine response to a cold pressor test was used to investigate norepinephrine activity in subtypes of depressive illness. Patients with melancholic or psychotic depression, non-melancholic depression, general anxiety disorder and normal control subjects had a cold pressor test carried out under standard conditions. Blood samples were taken to measure plasma norepinephrine during the test. The plasma norepinephrine response to a cold pressor test was reduced in the melancholic/psychotic depressed patients compared to control subjects. No other intergroup comparisons were statistically significant. These results suggest noradrenergic systems are disturbed and subresponsive to stress in melancholic/psychotic depressed patients. This does not appear related to other clinical or biochemical factors.
Kelly
C B
CB
Department of Mental Health, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
Cooper
S J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine