Cerebrospinal fluid norepinephrine in affective illness

Abstract

The authors measured cerebrospinal fluid norepinephrine concentrations in manic, depressive, and neurological control patients with and without probenecid administration. Baseline and probenecid norepinephrine values were significantly higher in manic than in depressed patients, who did not differ significantly from the neurological patients. Depressed patients with high levels of anxiety had higher levels of norepinephrine than those with low anxiety. These data suggest that alterations in mood or motor activity may be associated with changes in central norepinephrine metabolism in man.