Humoral Changes in Manic-Depressive Psychosis with Particular Reference to the Excretion of Catechol Amines in Urine

Abstract

Psychotic patients with periodically changing symptoms offer particular opportunities for psychosomatic and metabolic studies. Following the classical work of Gjessing (1932, 1935, 1939, 1953) other authors (Ashby, 1952; Rowntree and Kay, 1952; Smith, 1954; Gunne and Gemzell, 1956; Crammer, 1957) have studied metabolic changes in periodic catatonia. Cycles of behaviour and metabolism in psychiatric patients and in patients with “periodic disease” have been reviewed by Richter (1957) who also reported on interesting experiments aimed at the induction of periodic cycles of behaviour in rats.

Clinical and biochemical aspects of depressive disorders: II. Transmitter/receptor theories

“…Urinary norepinephrine and one of its metabolites, normetanephrine (NM) have been reported to be altered in patients with manic-depressive illness. Strom-Olsen and Weil-Malherbe (1958) found that urinary excretion of norepinephrine and epinephrine (Epi) was greater during the manic, as compared to depressed, phase in patients with manic-depressive disorders. Bjorum et al (1972) reported elevated excretion of NE and Epi in a series of manic patients, whereas no significant changes in the excretion of either amine were observed in patients with endogenous depressions (retarded depressions were not separately characterized).…”

Urinary Catecholamine Metabolites during Behavioral Changes in a Patient with Manic-Depressive Cycles

“…Strom-Olsen and Weil-Malherbe (9) found that urinary excretion of norepinephrine and epinephrine was greater during the manic phase in patients with manicdepressive disorders. Bergman (10) reported elevated excretion of norepinephrine and epinephrine in a series of manic patients, whereas no significant changes in the excretion of either amine were observed in patients with endogenous depressions (retarded depressions were not separately characterized).…”

The Emerging Neurobiology of Mood Disorder

“…These problems can be partially avoided by following a patient through a complete cycle of illness, and when this has been successfully accomplished, there do appear greater amounts of amine metabolized during mania than in the depressed phase of bipolar illness. 9 . 15 .16 However, that this is an artifact of physical activity remains a possibility.…”