Cholecystokinin in CSF from depressed patients: possible relations to severity of depression and suicidal behaviour.

Levels of cholecystokinin (CCK) peptides were measured in the CSF from 105 patients suffering from major depressive disorders admitted to a research psychiatric ward for diagnostic evaluation, by a radioimmunoassay method using two different antibodies. Relations between CCK levels and parameters of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviour were investigated. Significant inverse correlations were found between CCK levels and certain depression and anxiety parameters. Patients who had made one or more suicide attempts tended to have higher CSF CCK levels than those who had not. No correlations were found between CSF CCK and 5-HIAA or HVA, or with plasma cortisol.