title: Platelet serotonin concentration and depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: Depressive symptoms seem to be frequent in schizophrenia, but so far they have received less attention than other symptom domains. Impaired serotonergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and schizophrenia. The objectives of this study were to investigate platelet serotonin concentrations in schizophrenic patients with and without depressive symptoms, and to investigate the association between platelet serotonin concentrations and symptoms of schizophrenia, mostly depressive symptoms. A total of 364 patients were included in the study, 237 of which had significant depressive symptoms. Significant depressive symptoms were defined by the cut-off score of 7 or more on Calgary Depression Rating Scale (CDSS). Platelet serotonin concentrations were assessed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Prevalence of depression in patients with schizophrenia was 65.1%. Schizophrenic patients with depressive symptoms showed lower platelet serotonin concentrations (mean±SD; 490.6±401.2) compared to schizophrenic patients without depressive symptoms (mean±SD; 660.9±471.5). An inverse correlation was established between platelet serotonin concentration and depressive symptoms, with more severe symptoms being associated with lower platelet serotonin concentrations. Depressive symptoms in schizophrenic patients may be associated with reduced concentrations of platelet serotonin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia; Croatian Catholic University, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vjekoslav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Peitl
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia; Croatian Catholic University, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vidrih
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Karlović
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Biserka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Getaldić
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peitl
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia; Croatian Catholic University, Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: dalibor.karlovic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dalibor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karlović
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012701:Serotonin
keywords: Blood platelets; Depression; Psychiatric status rating scales; Schizophrenia; Serotonin