title: Reduction of night/day difference in melatonin blood levels as a possible disease-related index in schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this study was to verify if a simple index as night-day plasma MLT level variation is able to confirm the existing data on circadian melatonin alterations in schizophrenia and if a relationship to disease itself instead of the actual clinical state can be suggested.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten consecutively admitted male schizophrenic inpatients were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The blood samples for melatonin were collected at 3.00 a.m. and 15.00 p.m. and consequently calculated the values of Delta () (MLT h.3.00- MLT h.15.00). We divided the sample into two subgroups: < 30 pg/ml and > 30 pg/ml taking 30 pg/ml as an arbitrary value, based on literature data, that should indicate a physiologically correct value of.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 70% of the sample was under the 30 pg/ml value of (13.61 +/- 4.0) or was lacking of the characteristic circadian pattern of MLT secretion, whilst the 30% of the sample was over the 30 pg/ml value of (83.60 +/- 16.34) or was in presence of the characteristic circadian pattern of MLT secretion (p=.0001). No correlation was found between values and the scale and subscales scores for the assessment of psychopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data confirm the lack of the characteristic circadian pattern of MLT secretion in schizophrenics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The absence of significant correlation between night / day melatonin level differences and actual psychopathology variables should indicate that the suppression of is mostly related to the disease and independent from the clinical state. A neuroleptic-treatment effect cannot be excluded so far.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Psychiatric Sciences and Psychological Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. bersani@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mameli
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garavini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pancheri
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008550:Melatonin