Effects of light on low nocturnal bilirubin in winter depression: a preliminary report

Biological Psychiatry
D A OrenDennis S Charney

Abstract

The light-absorbing pigments involved in the induction of treatment of winter depression are unknown. It has been proposed that circulating bilirubin serves as a photoreceptor, in part because of its similarity to the chromophore of phytochrome, a primary time-setting plant molecule. We measured nocturnal bilirubin levels in nine patients with winter depression, and seven age- and gender-matched normal comparison volunteers. Nocturnal bilirubin levels were lower in patients than in controls (p <.02), increased in both groups during the night (p <.0001), and increased in patients after 2 weeks of morning light treatment (p =.0009), which was accompanied by clinical improvement. Low nocturnal bilirubin levels may be associated with winter seasonal depression.

References

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Citations

Jun 14, 2005·Trends in Molecular Medicine·Igino RigatoClaudio Tiribelli
Dec 25, 2009·Chronobiology International·Anders LarssonJohn Axelsson
May 21, 2013·Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences·Wai Kwong TangKa Sing Wong
Jul 6, 2005·Ageing Research Reviews·Dick F SwaabPaul J Lucassen
Feb 7, 2014·Reviews in the Neurosciences·Jijun Chen
Feb 6, 2020·Medicinal Research Reviews·Libor Vítek
Jun 19, 2021·Journal of Psychiatric Research·Ziqiang LinYanhui Gao
Aug 26, 2021·European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience·Xiaohui WuYiru Fang
May 4, 2005·Pediatrics·Libor Vítek

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