[The action of high-intensity light on catecholamine excretion in depressive patients]

The action of bright light (2600-2800 lux) on the catecholamine (CA) excretion was analyzed in patients with anxious (11) and melancholic (12) depressions resultant from manic-depressive psychosis and schizophrenia. The melancholic depressed patients were characterized by decreased noradrenaline (NA) and increased adrenaline (A) levels; in anxious depression NA and A were increased. The light therapy resulted in decrease of A level but NA level remained invariable in melancholic depression. Meanwhile the tendency to normalization of excretion of both CA was observed in anxious patients after light therapy. The contrary alterations in A/NA ratio as well as its considerable individual fluctuations were observed after light therapy. The A/NA ratio after light therapy depended mainly upon the initial A/NA ratio (the higher or lower ratio compared to control value).