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ObjectiveGhrelin and leptin, appetite-regulating hormones, play a role in mood regulation. Current data about the relation between leptin/ghrelin and depression are still controversial. This study aimed to investigate serum leptin and ghrelin levels in patients with depression and the effects of treatment on these levels.MethodsSerum ghrelin and leptin levels were measured before and after treatment with antidepressant drugs and/or electroconvulsive therapy in 28 patients with depression and once in 21 healthy controls.ResultsSerum ghrelin levels of the patients were high in the pre-treatment. After the treatment, ghrelin levels were not different from those of the controls. We found no difference in serum levels of leptin between the patients and controls and no change with treatment. body mass index of the patients increased after the treatment especially in the drug-treated group.ConclusionThe present study found increased serum ghrelin levels in depressive patients and normalization with improving of depression but no alteration in leptin levels.

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Objective: This randomized-controlled experimental study was conducted to determine the effects of psychoeducation in the inpatient clinic and regular telepsychiatric follow-up (via telephone) after discharge on emotional expression, depression and family burden of primary caregivers of the schizophrenic patients. Methods: This study was performed on 62 caregivers of the schizophrenic patients, assigned to experiment (n=32) and control (n=30) groups, from 1st July 2010 to 31st May 2011. The Scales for Expressed Emotion, the Beck Depression and the Zarit Family Burden were applied for the caregivers in experiment and control groups before education, after education and after 6-months telephone follow-up. Results: The mean scores of the caregivers in experiment group on family burden, emotional expression and depression were decreased after education and after telephone follow-up and difference was significant (p<0.001). Conclusions : Psychoeducation and telepsychiatric follow-up via telephone induced decrease in family burden, emotional expression and depressive symptoms for their caregivers and was a support for the family in the patient care.

The findings of this study support the GABA deficit hypothesis of major depression because major depressive patients have lower levels of serum GABA that are increased by a completed ECT course. ECT seems to increase brain GABA levels as well as GABAB activity, and these effects may contribute to its mechanism of therapeutic effect.

Decreased free thyroid hormone levels may be a result of heavy alcohol consumption or a trait marker of alcoholism, especially in high-aggressive, early-onset and family history-negative patients.