title: Changes in pupil reaction to light in melancholic patients.
abstract: The aim of the current study was to compare the pupil reaction to light in depressed patients and normal control subjects. Seven depressed patients with melancholic features according to DSM-IV criteria and 14 age- and gender-matched control subjects took part in the study. All were free of any medication for at least 2 weeks. All were aged between 25 and 50 years. An optical method was used to assess the pupil reaction to a single flash. Depressed patients manifested shorter latency for constriction than control subjects, and a marginal difference in the total work produced by acetylcholine. The results of the current study support the theory that there is a norepinephrine hypoactivity in melancholic depression, with less affected acetylcholine activity.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Psychiatry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. kfount@med.auth.gr
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fountoulakis
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fotiou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iacovides
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsiptsios
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goulas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsolaki
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ierodiakonou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary / Q000502:physiology*; D013996:Time and Motion Studies