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Bone mineral density in women with depression
D Michelson1, C Stratakis, L Hill
1Clinical Neuroendocrinology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1284, USA.
The New England Journal of Medicine
|October 17, 1996
Summary
Women with depression show significantly lower bone mineral density, particularly at the hip and spine. This study highlights a critical link between major depression and reduced bone health in women.
Area of Science:
- Bone Metabolism and Endocrinology
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
Background:
- Depression is linked to neuroendocrine changes and behavioral alterations, known risk factors for diminished bone mineral density.
- This research investigates the potential association between a history of major depression and reduced bone density in women.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if women with past or current major depression exhibit lower bone mineral density compared to controls.
- To explore the relationship between depression, bone metabolism, and neuroendocrine factors.
Main Methods:
- Bone mineral density was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the hip, spine, and radius in 24 women with depression and 24 matched controls.
- Evaluations included cortisol and growth hormone secretion, bone metabolism markers, and vitamin D-receptor alleles.
Main Results:
- Women with depression had significantly lower bone density: 6.5% at the spine, 13.6% at the femoral neck, 13.6% at Ward's triangle, and 10.8% at the trochanter.
- Depressed women exhibited higher urinary cortisol, lower serum osteocalcin, and reduced urinary deoxypyridinoline excretion.
Conclusions:
- Past or current major depression in women is significantly associated with decreased bone mineral density.
- These findings suggest a potential biological link between depression and skeletal fragility.