Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Lifetime burden of mood swings and activation of brain norepinephrine turnover in patients with treatment-refractory depressive illness

  • Anna Ehnvall
  • , Magnus Sjögren
  • , Olof C G Zachrisson
  • , Hans Agren
21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We tested if duration and intensity of episodes in treatment-resistant affectively ill patients were related to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of monoamine metabolites.

METHOD: In retrospective life charts were recorded every previous episode of 37 patients with severe treatment-refractory affective disorders. 'Accumulated burden of mood swings' (ABMS, sum of each episode length x episode depth) was used to estimate the accumulated illness burden. Homovanillic acid (HVA), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were analyzed in CSF of all patients and compared with 27 healthy controls. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis.

RESULTS: CSF MHPG contributed strongly significant and positively to the ABMS.

LIMITATIONS: The retrospective nature of the study.

CONCLUSION: CSF concentrations of MHPG is positively related to ABMS over life. Thus, a specific involvement of norepinephrine in the long-term burden of affective illness is a likely reality.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Affective Disorders
Volume74
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)185-9
Number of pages5
ISSN0165-0327
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Brain
  • Depressive Disorder
  • Drug Resistance
  • Female
  • Homovanillic Acid
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
  • Middle Aged
  • Mood Disorders
  • Norepinephrine
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Spinal Puncture
  • Journal Article

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Lifetime burden of mood swings and activation of brain norepinephrine turnover in patients with treatment-refractory depressive illness'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this