gastrins and Psychotic-Disorders

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were studied in patients with endogenous depression, non-endogenous depression, mania, schizophrenia and a control group. All patients were classified according to ICD-9 and the group of depressions was further classified according to the Newcastle Rating Scales for depression (Carney et al. 1965) (N-I). In the group of non-endogenously depressed patients, CSF-VIP levels (median 16 pmol/l) were found to be significantly lower than those of controls (median = 32 pmol/l) and endogenous depressives (36 pmol/l). In the non-endogenous group, it appeared that the low CSF-VIP was due to a group of patients who, during a past or present depressive episode, had been diagnosed as suffering from endogenous depression. Moreover, this group was clinically characterized by 'dysphoric/hysterical features', 'reversed diurnal variation' (i.e. worse in the evening), and 'lack of clearly circumscribed episodes'. In many aspects this group seems similar to the atypical depressives described as monoamine oxidase inhibitor responders. Concerning CSF-CCK and CSF-gastrin, no significant differences between the examined groups were demonstrated.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Bipolar Disorder; Cholecystokinin; Depressive Disorder; Female; Gastrins; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychological Tests; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Ten psychiatric patients were given a protein-rich meal in periods on and off lithium administration. The concentrations of gastrin in serum were measured radioimmunochemically before and during the meal. The results show that lithium suppresses basal as well as food-stimulated gastrin secretion.

Topics: Adult; Female; Food; Gastrins; Humans; Lithium; Psychotic Disorders