[The preliminary investigation of cholinesterase in depression]

In this paper the activity of blood cholinesterase and serum cholinesterase were reported in 32 depressions without physical disease. There were 20 males and 12 females. Prior to study none of the patients received antidepressants, lithium and antipsychotics or other therapies. The control group consisted of 43 normal healthy persons (male: 32, female: 11). The results showed that the mean activity unit of blood cholinesterase and serum cholinesterase were lower in major depression than in the control group. Particularly more lower in the activity of blood cholinesterase in patients with very severe depression and longer course of depression. The differences were statistically significant. Based on the review of literatures, some authors suggested that the low activity of blood cholinesterase would be consistent with the hypothesis, that depression is associated with reduced cholinesterase activity in the brain. The reason for the mechanism is not clear. Whether it is a biological marker of depression, this needs further investigation.