Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-31T14:41:41.556Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

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 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychiatric Association (1987) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd edn, revised) (DSM–III–R). Washington, DC: APA.Google Scholar
Baron, B. M., Ogden, A. M., Siegel, B. W., et al (1988) Rapid down regulation of beta-adrenoceptors by co-administration of desipramine and fluoxetine. European Journal of Pharmacology, 154, 125–134.Google Scholar
Byerley, W. F., McConnell, E. J., McCabe, R. T., et al (1988) Decreased beta-adrenergic receptors in rat brain after chronic administration of the selective serotonin uptake inhibitor fluoxetine. Psychopharmacology, 94, 141–143.Google Scholar
Cox, C. M., Mason, R., Meal, A., et al (1986) Altered 5-HT sensitivity and synaptic morphology in rat CNS induced by long-term exposure to continuous light. British Journal of Pharmacology, 89, 528.Google Scholar
Czeisler, C. A., Kronauer, R. E., Mooney, J. J., et al (1987) Biologic rhythm disorders, depression and phototherapy: a new hypothesis. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 10, 687–709.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Demisch, K., Demisch, L., Bochnik, H. J., et al (1986) Melatonin and cortisol increase after fluvoxamine. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 22, 620–622.Google Scholar
Lewy, A. J., Wehr, T. A. & Goodwin, F. K. (1980) Light suppresses melatonin secretion in humans. Science, 210, 1267–1269.Google Scholar
Lewy, A. J., Sack, R. L., Singer, C. M., et al (1989) Winter depression and the phase-shift hypothesis for bright light's therapeutic effects: history, theory and experimental evidence. In Seasonal Affective Disorders and Phototherapy (eds Rosenthal, N. E. & Blehar, M. C.), pp. 295–310. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
O'Rourke, D., Wurtman, J. J., Wurtman, R. J., et al (1989) Treatment of seasonal depression with d-fenfluramine. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 50, 343–347.Google Scholar
Rosenthal, N. E., Sack, D. A., Gillin, J. C., et al (1984) Seasonal affective disorder: a description of the syndrome and preliminary findings with light therapy. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 72–80.Google Scholar
Thompson, C., Mezey, G., Corn, T., et al (1985) The effect of desipramine upon melatonin and cortisol secretion in depressed and normal subjects. British Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 389–393.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thompson, C., Stinson, D. & Smith, A. (1990) Seasonal affective disorder and season-dependent abnormalities of melatonin depression by light. Lancet, 336, 703–706.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.