STUDIES OF MINERAL METABOLISM IN MENTAL DEPRESSION

Abstract

Calcium metabolic studies in 9 emotionally depressed patients before and after electric convulsive therapy or administration of a course of imipramine showed that treatment was associated with marked decrease in serum calcium concentration in most patients. The possible relationship of this finding to the phenomenon of depression has been discussed. Treatment with ECT in all patients and with imipramine in most was associated with improved calcium retention manifested by a shift toward positive balance. In most of these cases this resulted from increase in net absorption from the gut and decreased urinary calcium excretion. Calcium kinetic studies indicated that the increased retention due to electric convulsive therapy was caused by decreased bone resorption. In 3 out of 4 patients treated with imipramine, the increased calcium retention was associated with increased bone formation, which was marked in 2 patients and less marked in 1. The possible use of imipramine for treating osteopenia of unknown origin where bone formation is low has been suggested.