Changes in plasma cholesterol in mood disorder patients: does treatment make a difference?
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of treatment in patients with acute episodes of major depressive (MD) and manic or hypomanic (M/HM) episodes and co-morbid generalized anxiety symptoms, on the total cholesterol blood levels (TC).


METHODS
A consenting series of patients with acute episodes of DSM IV-R confirmed diagnosis of MD or M/H were included. Subjects were treated with antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or both. The Hamilton depression scale (HAM-D21), the modified mania rating scale (MMRS), and the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAM-A) were utilized to evaluate clinical symptoms. Blood samples were drawn for TC estimations after 10 h of fasting on two occasions over time. The first sample was taken before treatment was started, and the second 4 weeks after treatment. The relationship between changes in TC and the severity of psychiatric symptoms, as measured on HAM-D, MMRS, and the HAM-A, were analysed.


RESULTS
56 subjects (34 with MD and 22 with M/HM episodes) completed the study. About 4 weeks after treatment there was a statistically significant increase in the TC in patients with MD versus a significant decrease in patients with M/HM episodes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results replicate earlier reports of significant increase in the cholesterol levels in depressed patients after treatment. We report a significant decrease of TC levels in M/HM episodes with treatment. Although the results in previous reports and in our study are statistically significant, their clinical significance requires further examination in longer-term studies.
Gabriel
A
A
University of Calgary, Airport Business Center, 2000 Pegasus Road NE, Calgary Alberta, Canada T2E 8K7. Gabriel@ucalgary.ca
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D002784:Cholesterol; D018967:Risperidone; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors