Abstract
The authors examined melatonin circadian rhythms in childhood depression by measuring integrated plasma melatonin concentrations in hourly blood samples, obtained by constant withdrawal during 24 hours, in nine depressed boys and 10 control boys similar in age and pubertal development. Mean 24-hour and mean overnight melatonin concentrations were significantly lower in the depressed boys. These preliminary results indicate that melatonin secretion is decreased in childhood depression, as in adult depression. Further studies are needed to examine the usefulness of melatonin as a marker for the trait of depression.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 395-399 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1987 |
Keywords
- depression
- melatonin circadian rhythm
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health