Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Antonijevic, 2003 PubMed |
| Full Info | Antonijevic, I.A., Murck, H., Frieboes, R.M., Uhr, M. and Steiger, A. (2003) On the role of menopause for sleep-endocrine alterations associated with major depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 28, 401-418.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
Aging and menopause are associated with alterations of the sleep EEG, while age-related changes of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis remain controversial. Major depression is also associated with typical sleep-endocrine changes, including enhanced activity of the HPA axis, while an influence of age and gender on these alterations is less clear.
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| Sample Information | 16 drug-free female patients, mostly with the first episode of a major depressive disorder (seven pre- and nine postmenopausal subjects) and 19 female controls (10 subjects in the early follicular phase and nine postmenopausal subjects). |
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| Method Detail | To test the hypothesis that after menopause sleep-endocrine alterations associated with major depression are accentuated, we examined the sleep EEG and nocturnal hormone secretion (ACTH, cortisol, GH, estradiol, LH, FSH, and leptin) in 16 drug-free female patients, mostly with the first episode of a major depressive disorder and 19 female controls. |
| Method Keywords | electroencephalogram (EEG); blood analysis |
| Result | Nocturnal cortisol secretion was increased in postmenopausal patients with depression, while a decrease was noted in postmenopausal controls. Sleep alterations typically associated with depression, namely a reduction in sleep continuity and slow wave sleep (SWS) and an increase in REM density, were prominent in post- but not in premenopausal patients. An inverse correlation was noted between the decline in SWS and sleep continuity and FSH secretion in patients with depression, suggesting a role of menopause for these sleep-endocrine alterations typically associated with major depression. In contrast, in premenopausal patients we noted primarily a shift in SWS and delta-EEG activity from the first to the second non-REM period, which was not related to age or hormone secretion. |
| Conclusions | Though the relatively small number of subjects per group precludes a definitive conclusion, our data open up the possibility that the sleep-endocrine changes typically associated with major depression are most prominent in postmenopausal patients. Whether the predominant alteration of the distribution of SWS and delta EEG activity in younger patients with a first episode of major depression has a predictive value for the future course of the disease remains to be investigated. |
Relationships reported by
Antonijevic, 2003
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
|
Sleep disturbances (sleep alterations)
|
symptoms |
Follitropin subunit beta (FSH) |
protein |
|
An inverse correlation was noted between the decline in SWS and sleep continuity and FSH secretion in patients with depression, suggesting a role of menopause for these sleep-endocrine alterations typically associated with major depression. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Follitropin subunit beta (FSH) |
protein |
|
An inverse correlation was noted between the decline in SWS and sleep continuity and FSH secretion in patients with depression, suggesting a role of menopause for these sleep-endocrine alterations typically associated with major depression. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Hydrocortisone (cortisol) |
molecule |
|
Nocturnal cortisol secretion was increased in postmenopausal patients with depression, while a decrease was noted in postmenopausal controls. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Killer Cells, Natural (NK(natural killer) cell) |
cell |
|
Sleep alterations typically associated with depression, namely a reduction in sleep continuity and slow wave sleep (SWS) and an increase in REM density, were prominent in post- but not in premenopausal patients. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Sleep disturbances (sleep alterations) |
symptoms |
|
Sleep alterations typically associated with depression, namely a reduction in sleep continuity and slow wave sleep (SWS) and an increase in REM density, were prominent in post- but not in premenopausal patients. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Slow wave sleep (SWS) (slow wave sleep) |
neurobiological system |
|
Sleep alterations typically associated with depression, namely a reduction in sleep continuity and slow wave sleep (SWS) and an increase in REM density, were prominent in post- but not in premenopausal patients. In premenopausal patients we noted primarily a shift in SWS(slow wave sleep) and delta-EEG activity from the first to the second non-REM period, which was not related to age or hormone secretion. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Delta wave (delta) |
neurobiological system |
|
In premenopausal patients we noted primarily a shift in SWS(slow wave sleep) and delta-EEG activity from the first to the second non-REM period, which was not related to age or hormone secretion. |
Positive
|
