In 66 patients with
endogenous depression (34 males and 32 females) the concentrations of biogene
amine metabolites (
vanilmandelic acid (VMA), 5-hydroxyindole
acetic acid (5-
HIIA),
adrenaline and
noradrenaline) were examined in 24-hrs urine and
hormone in the serum: iodothyronine (T-3),
thyroxine (T-4),
thyroglobulin (Tg),
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),
adrenocorticotropic hormone (
ACTH),
cortisol,
prolactin and growth
hormones. The examination was performed prior to the initiation of
antidepressant therapy and 30 days after its application. The biogene
amine metabolites were in reference values before initiation of the
therapy, although values of 5-HIIA in women and were closer to the lower limit. Thirty days after the initiation of the
antidepressant therapy the statistically significant difference was found at the level of p < 0.05 for adrenalin in men and for VMA and 5-HIIA in women. The
hormone values before initiation of the
therapy showed increased values of
growth hormone,
cortisol in men and of
thyroglobulin,
growth hormone and
cortisol in women. At the end of the
antidepressant therapy the statistically significant difference was found at the level of p < 0.05 for
thyroglobulin and TSH in men and for
thyroglobulin,
growth hormone and
cortisol in women. By comparing the results obtained before and after the
antidepressant therapy, the statistically significant difference was found at the level of p < 0.05 for Tg in men and for Tg, T-3,
prolactin and
growth hormone compared to the women. It has been concluded that in patients with
endogenous depression the important role in pathogenesis of the disease have some neurobiogenic disorders.