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The incidence of physical symptoms in depression was studied in 51 drug-free patients and in an age and sex-matched control group. Mean symptom intensity and number of symptoms were significantly higher in the patient than in the control group. The subjects' personality structure and relationships between their symptoms and degrees of depression and anxiety were examined using the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Of the variables studied, only the N score of the EPI was shown to influence the symptoms significantly. The effect of such non-specific factors as age, gender, use of alcohol, coffee, tea, and cigarettes was also evaluated and found to be minimal.

Premenstrual tension was studied in 16 females, using both biochemical and psychological parameters during the pre- and postmenstrual phases. Uptake of serotonin (5-HT) and the levels of 5-HT in platelet-rich plasma and platelet-poor plasma were determined. Degrees of distress experienced pre- and postmenstrually were quantified via the Moos menstrual distress questionnaire. The mean V_max was significantly lower during the premenstrual (tension) phase (8.2 ± 0.9 pmol/min) as compared to the postmenstrual (normal) phase (14.4 ± 3.2 pmol/min). There was no significant difference in the K_m values. A highly significant (p < 0.001) reduction in the levels of 5-HT in platelet-rich plasma (–23.2%) and platelet-poor plasma (-19.1%) was found during the premenstrual phase. There were correlations between the kinetic parameters of 5-HT uptake and some of the Moos symptoms.