Diurnal alterations in circadian genes and peptides in major depressive disorder before and after escitalopram treatment

Sep 5, 2013Psychoneuroendocrinology

Daily changes in body clock genes and related chemicals in major depression before and after escitalopram treatment

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Abstract

MDD patients exhibited persistent disruptions in the diurnal rhythms of several clock genes and hormones after 8 weeks of escitalopram treatment.

  • Compared to healthy controls, MDD patients had altered expression patterns of clock genes including PERIOD1, PERIOD2, CRY1, BMAL1, NPAS2, and GSK-3β.
  • Diurnal rhythms of melatonin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and growth hormone (GH) were also disrupted in MDD patients.
  • Several disruptions in clock gene expression and hormone release persisted after treatment, indicating potential neurobiological changes related to MDD.
  • Notable changes included increased 24-hour levels of VIP and decreased levels of cortisol and ACTH following treatment.
  • These neurobiological changes may be associated with the symptoms of MDD that contribute to the risk of recurrence.

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