Lower CSF Homovanillic Acid Levels in Depressed Patients With a History of Alcoholism

This study compared clinical features & cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolites in depressed subjects with & without a history of alcoholism & healthy volunteers. The authors found that depressed subjects with a history of alcoholism did not differ from depressed subjects without a history of alcoholism in current severity of depressive symptoms, or in past suicidal behavior, but had lower CSF homovanillic acid levels & higher lifetime aggression & current suicide ideation scale scores. (113 refs)