[Serum serotonin level in patients with depression and panic attacks]

Serum serotonin level (SSL) was studied using ELISA method in 21 patients with depression associated with panic attacks (PA) and 15 non-depressed patients (8--with PA, 7--with the autonomous nervous system dysfunction). The authors found significant positive correlation between increased SSL and severity of depression, according to BDI (r = 0.82, r < 0.05). There was no correlation with other signs of the disease (anxiety, autonomous nervous system parameters). SSL in control group was about 72.6 +/- 10.06 ng/ml, in mild depressed patients--203.41 +/- 26.47 ng/ml, in severe depressed patients--438.58 +/- 36.31 ng/ml (P(1-2) < 0.001; P(2-3) < 0.001). It was proposed to use SSL for verification the depression severity.