A primary study on the oxytocin levels, the cortisol levels and the relationship with severity of depression in the patients with major depression / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo explore the difference of the oxytocin Levels and cortisol levels between major depression patients and normal controls,and the relationship of symptoms severity of major depression with oxytocin levels and cortisol levels.MethodsTwenty 18 ～ 45years old major depression patients and twenty six normal controls were tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the oxytocin levels and cortisol levels,and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 item was used to evaluate the symptoms severity of depression in patient group.ResultsMann-Whitney test showed there were significantly differences in oxytocin level between patients and controls ( ( 213.60 ± 164.29 ) pg/ml vs ( 112.27 ± 101.21 ) pg/ml,z =- 2.306,P =0.021 ),but there were no significantly differences in cortisol level between two groups.Within the depressive sample( (0.131± 0.089) vs (0.107 ± 0.077 ) pg/ul,z =- 0.920,P =0.358 ),the severity of depressive symptom was positive correlated to the value of oxytocin ( r=0.599,P=0.005) and cortisol( r=0.691,P=0.001 ),the value of oxytocin was also positive correlated to the value of cortisol( r =0.743,P ＜ 0.01 ),Multiple liner regression analyses showed that the value of oxytocin is an impact factor of the severity of depression.( adjusted R2 =0.358,F =11.578,P =0.003 ).ConclusionThis study indicated that the value of plasma oxytocin maybe significantly differences between depression and normal controls and the plasma oxytocin level maybe a factor which influence the severity of major depression,the relationship of the cortisol value and the severity of depression can not be confirmed.