Naslov
Some Biological Aspects of Depression

Autori
Thaller, Vlatko ; Brzović, Z. ; Breitenfeld, Darko ; Buljan, Danijel

Izvornik
Collegium antropologicum (0350-6134) 19 (1995), 2; 495-504

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, ostalo

Ključne riječi
Depression; Analysis of biological parameters

Sažetak
A sample of 42 patients was selected from the research project, and all the examinees were treated for depressive psychosis at the Department of Clinical Psychiatry of the Clinical Hospital "Sestre Milosrdnice" in Zagreb, Croatia. The aim of the study was the analysis of biological aspects that are present in depression. A review of contemporary literature was also given, as well at the results of the research of other authors. Depressions presented clinically more difficult form of endogenous depression: unipolar, bipolar and involutive depression. The complete clinico-laboratory examination of the studied group of patients was performed. Among specific laboratory tests, biochemical examinations, detection of metabolites of some neurotransmitters and psychological tests were performed. The results of the study revealed lowered serum levels of prolactine andsertonine, and also 5-HIAA in 24-hour urine. Those findings were in correlation with the degree of depression, when measured by various tests (Overall`s short psychiatric rating scale, Hamilton`s depression scale and Beck`s questionnaire). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between prolactine blood levels and degree of depression according to Hamilton`s scale (t=2.369, p<0.05). Similar results were found for sertonine blood levels and 5-HIAA urine levels, although those observations were not statistically significant (t=1.595, p>0.05 and t= &#61485; 1.210, p>0.05, respectively). A large portion of patients (65.63%), mostly ones with involutive depression, also revealed localized cortical cerebral atrophic changes on computerized tomography (CT) examination. The results of this investigations further deliveate some biological aspects of depression, what is of importance because of the therapy, and they also represent a considerable scientific contribution. In some patients in a studied group, a relatively high values of GT were found, what was interpreted as the patient`s attempt of the self-therapy using alcoholic beverages.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

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