title: Elevated salivary α-amylase and cortisol levels in unremitted and remitted depressed patients.
abstract: Abstract Objective. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is often associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis via chronic stress. Psychosocial stress-induced activation of salivary α-amylase (sAA) represents sympathoadrenal medullary system (SAM) activity, and sAA has become an emerging biomarker for sympathetic nervous system activity. In contrast to salivary cortisol, sAA has been less extensively studied in depressed patients. The present study sought to address this problem by measuring sAA and salivary cortisol levels in patients with major depressive disorder. Methods. The authors recorded Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores along with, levels of sAA and salivary cortisol in 28 patients with unremitted major depressive disorder, 43 remitted patients and 103 healthy volunteers. Results. STAI (State or Trait) measurements in unremitted patients with MDD were significantly increased compared with healthy controls and remitted patients. SAA and cortisol levels in unremitted patients were also significantly elevated compared to controls and remitted patients. Finally, sAA levels were significantly correlated with HRSD in unremitted patients with MDD. Conclusion. These preliminary results suggest that sAA may be a state-dependent marker of major depressive disorder in addition to salivary cortisol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Hasama-Machi, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishitobi
authors.forename: Jotaro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akiyoshi
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Shizuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanehisa
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Taiga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ninomiya
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Jusen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsuru
authors.forename: Aimi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hanada
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isogawa
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kodama
keywords: Depression; HPA axis; SAM activity; salivary cortisol; salivary α-amylase