MHPG excretion in endogenous depression: relationship to clinical state and the effects of ECT

Biogenic amine metabolites in delusional (psychotic) depression and melancholia subtypes of major depression

1. The levels of the urinary main metabolites of norepinephrine 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), of dopamine homovanillic acid (HVA) and of serotonin 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured in 84 patients with major depressive disorder, 34 delusional and 50 nondelusional. Melancholia subtype was also defined (N = 62). 2. MHPG was significantly higher in the delusional depressed group (p = 0.023). Female patients with delusional major depression also had significantly higher HVA excretion than female patients with non delusional major depression (p = 0.036). 5-HIAA excretion was similar in the two patient subgroups. 3. No significant differences in the three monoamine metabolites were found between the melancholic and nonmelancholic depressed patients.

Thyrotropin responses to TRH and MHPG excretion before and after an electroconvulsive therapeutic course in depressed patients

1. TSH response to TRH, and urinary MHPG were investigated before and after an ECT course in 12 female patients with endogenous depression. 2. The changes caused by ECT treatment on these parameters were not significant. 3. A positive correlation (r = 0.75, p = 0.005) was found between the changes in TSH response and the changes in urinary MHPG excretion.

Does 24-h urinary MHPG predict treatment response to antidepressants? I. A review

The ability of pretreatment 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) to predict response to various antidepressants is reviewed. MHPG appears to be a modest predictor of treatment response to imipramine but does not appear to be a reliable predictor for other antidepressants.