title: Bone density and depression in premenopausal South African women: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is posited that the effect of depression on BMD is dependent on the severity of depression. Conflicting evidence exists regarding this possible association. This study investigated the association between depression and low bone mineral density (BMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The hypothesis was investigated in a random sample of volunteers (n=40) and in premenopausal female psychiatric patients (n=5) diagnosed with recurrent severe major depression. The outcome measures were BMD (DEXA); depression (Beck Depression Inventory and Psychological General Well-being Scale) and 24-hour saliva cortisol levels (ELISA). In a comparison of women (4 of the 40 i.e. "control" subjects) with negligible symptoms of depression and the five patients with severe recurrent major depression- BMD, depression, saliva cortisol and bone turnover markers were measured and compared. Pro-inflammatory status (IL-1 and TNF-alpha) was investigated in the psychiatric patients only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the random - non clinical - sample of women (n=40), 26 exhibited normal BDM and 14 exhibited low BMD. Drepressive symptoms and cortisol level were not significantly different between these two groups. Women with severe recurrent major depression (n=5)exhibited lower median BMD T-scores, higher overall bone turnover and higher 24-hour cortisol levels compared to "control" subjects (n=4). The psychiatric patients also exhibited elevated IL-1 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of depression on BMD may be dependent on the depression severity, IL-1 and cortisol are possible mediators in depression-induced BMD loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. catherine.govender@up.ac.za
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Govender
authors.forename: A M E
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Du Plessis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bipath
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Povey
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viviers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viljoen
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017697:Premenopause / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015675:Osteocalcin; D006854:Hydrocortisone