[Cerebral noradrenaline metabolism and classification of depression]

Disturbed noradrenaline (NA) metabolism is thought to play a causal role in certain types of endogenic depression. This study was based on data from 88 patients with depression. The metabolism of NA was investigated by measuring urinary MHPG and plasma DOPEG concentrations and platelet nonoamine oxidase activity to determine if there were any differences in subgroups of depression defined by the DSM3. There was no difference in plasma DOPEG concentrations or of MAO activity in the different subgroups of depression, especially between episodes of major and non-major depression. On the other hand, depressed patients with an episode of major depression had significantly higher urinary MHPG concentrations than those with non-major depression.