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A Comparison of Melatonin Secretion in Depressed Patients and Normal Subjects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Christopher Thompson ,
Christine Franey ,
Josephine Arendt  and
Stuart A. Checkley
Christopher Thompson*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School
Christine Franey
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Surrey
Josephine Arendt
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Surrey
Stuart A. Checkley
Affiliation:
Maudsley Hospital, London
*
∗Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, St Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RP
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Abstract

Depressed patients were carefully matched in pairs with normal subjects for the variables which are known to influence the secretion of melatonin in humans. In contrast to the previous literature, nocturnal melatonin secretion was not lower in the depressed group than in the normal group, and there was no difference in the timing of secretion; indeed, the trend was for greater melatonin secretion in the depressed group. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies, none of which has been so carefully controlled for the relevant variables.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 152 , Issue 2 , February 1988 , pp. 260 - 265
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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