Reduction of CSF monoamine metabolites in poststroke depression: a preliminary report.

Monoamine metabolites were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of depressed and nondepressed patients with acute stroke lesions and in nondepressed patients without stroke lesions. Depressed stroke patients had a significantly lower concentration of CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA; a serotonin metabolite) than the other two groups. These findings suggest that poststroke depression may be mediated by serotonergic mechanisms.