Cerebrospinal fluid amine metabolites, tryptophan and clinical parameters in depression. Part 1. Background variables.

5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and tryptophan were measured in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid of 33 female patients with severe hospitalized depression. Total plasma tryptophan was also determined in blood samples taken simultaneously at the time of lumbar puncture. Twelve clinical parameters were recorded using operational definitions for variables not measurable in physical units, and were compared in patient subgroups containing individuals with the highest and the lowest metabolite levels. Only age proved to be significantly higher in patients with low CSF 5-HIAA, and body height showed the same tendency. The lack of other significant differences indicates that there are no close relations between these clinical parameters and the biochemical variables except the two mentioned above.