This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Parry, B. L. Articles by Elliott, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Parry, B. L. Articles by Elliott, J. A. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB ESTRADIOL MENOTROPINS PROGESTERONE Medline Plus Health Information Menopause Related Collections Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary Female Endocrinology

Increased Melatonin and Delayed Offset in Menopausal Depression: Role of Years Past Menopause, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, Sleep End Time, and Body Mass Index

Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, and the San Diego Veterans Affairs HealthCare System, La Jolla, California 92093-0804

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Barbara L. Parry, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0804. E-mail: bparry{at}ucsd.edu.

Context: The constellation of endocrine patterns accompanying menopausal depression remains incompletely characterized.

Objective: Our objective was to test the hypothesis that the amplitude or phase (timing) of melatonin circadian rhythms differs in menopausal depressed patients (DP) vs. normal controls women (NC).

Design: We measured plasma melatonin every 30 min from 1800–1000 h in dim light (<30 lux) or dark, serum gonadotropins and steroids (1800 and 0600 h), and mood (Hamilton and Beck depression ratings).

Setting: The study was conducted at a university hospital.

Participants and Setting: Twenty-nine (18 NC, 11 DP) peri- or postmenopausal women participated.

Main Outcome Measures: We measured plasma melatonin (onset, offset, synthesis offset, duration, peak concentration, and area under the curve) and mood.

Results: Multi- and univariate analyses of covariance showed that melatonin offset time was delayed (P = 0.045) and plasma melatonin was elevated in DP compared with NC (P = 0.044) across time intervals. Multiple regression analyses showed that years past menopause predicted melatonin duration and that melatonin duration, body mass index, years past menopause, FSH level, and sleep end time were significant predictors of baseline Hamilton (P = 0.0003) and Beck (P = 0.00004) depression scores.

Conclusions: Increased melatonin secretion that is phase delayed into the morning characterized menopausal DP vs. NC. Years past menopause, FSH, sleep end time, and body mass index may modulate effects of altered melatonin secretion in menopausal depression.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Leibenluft The Rhythm of the Blues Am J Psychiatry, December 1, 2008; 165(12): 1501 - 1504. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. L. Parry, C. J. Meliska, D. L. Sorenson, A. M. Lopez, L. F. Martinez, S. Nowakowski, J. A. Elliott, R. L. Hauger, and D. F. Kripke Plasma Melatonin Circadian Rhythm Disturbances During Pregnancy and Postpartum in Depressed Women and Women With Personal or Family Histories of Depression Am J Psychiatry, December 1, 2008; 165(12): 1551 - 1558. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]