Premium
S‐adenosylmethionine blood levels in major depression: changes with drug treatment
Author(s) -
Bell K. M.,
Potkin S. G.,
Carreon D.,
Plon L.,
Bell Kate M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1994.tb05404.x
Subject(s) - desipramine , depression (economics) , medicine , endogenous depression , hamilton depression scale , drug , randomized controlled trial , plasma levels , mood , antidepressant , endogeny , pharmacology , psychiatry , significant difference , hamd , hippocampus , economics , macroeconomics
‐ The relationship between plasma levels of S‐adenosylmethionine (SAMe), an endogenous methyl donor, and clinical response were studied in patients with a DSM‐III‐R diagnosis of major depression. Material and methods ‐ A double‐blind randomized protocol comparingoral SAMe with oral desipramine, involving a total of 26 patients, was employed. Results ‐At the end of the 4‐week trial, 62% of the patients treated with SAMe and 50% of the patients treated with desipramine had significantly improved. Regardless of the type of treatment, patients witha 50% decrease in their Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM‐D) score showed a significant increase in plasma SAMe concentration. Conclusion ‐ The significant correlation between plasma SAMe levels and the degree of clinical improvement in depressed patients regardless of the type of treatment suggests that SAMe may play an important role in regulating mood.