Clinical and Biochemical Heterogeneity of Depressive Disorders

Abstract

Indirect evidence, mostly pharmacologic, suggested a role for brain neurotransmitter amines such as norepinephrine in the production of [human] depression or mania. Clinical investigations supported this concept but also indicate that depression is probably a biochemically heterogeneous group of illnesses. There may be a clinically, biochemically and pharmacologically definable subtype of depression in which there is a disorder of norepinephrine metabolism or disposition in brain. The experimental data for this hypothesis was presented.