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Effect of Fluoxetine on Melatonin in Patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder and Matched Controls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

P. A. Childs ,
I. Rodin ,
N. J. Martin ,
L. Plaskett ,
C. Thompson ,
N. H. P. Allen  and
P. J. Smythe
P. A. Childs*
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton
I. Rodin
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton
N. J. Martin
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton
L. Plaskett
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton
C. Thompson
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton
N. H. P. Allen
Affiliation:
Withington Hospital, Manchester
P. J. Smythe
Affiliation:
University Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton
*
Dr P. A. Childs, University Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Graham Road, Southampton SO9 4PE
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Abstract

Background

The aim was to investigate the secretion profile of melatonin and seasonal affective disorder before and after treatment with fluoxetine.

Method

A six-week case-controlled study with repeated overnight blood sampling was conducted. Ten patients fulfilling the criteria for major depressive disorder, seasonal type, with a 29-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score of at least 20 were compared with ten age- and sex-matched healthy controls in a clinical laboratory. The effects of fluoxetine (20 mg/day) on the HDRS and melatonin concentration were measured.

Results

Fluoxetine significantly reduced melatonin levels in both groups. There was no significant difference in melatonin secretion between the groups.

Conclusions

The effect of fluoxetine differs from tricyclics and fluvoxamine, both of which increase melatonin.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 166 , Issue 2 , February 1995 , pp. 196 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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