Melatonin for Depression

It is clear that people suffering from depression have a delayed melatonin cycle. There is some evidence that they also have lower levels of melatonin in their blood, but other studies do not show this pattern.

Research on melatonin as a treatment for depression is sorely lacking in both design strength and numbers of subjects. While most studies show a small positive effect on depression, at least one study reports a significant negative effect. I therefore do not recommend using melatonin for depression.

Research

Pacchierotti, C. et al. Melatonin in Psychiatric Disorders: A Review on the Melatonin Involvement in Psychiatry. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. Volume 22, Issue 1, January 2001, Pages 18-32.

Reviews the complicated relationship between melatonin and mood. Finds insufficient evidence to theorize a relationship or recommend it as a treatment.

Carman, J. et al. Negative effects of melatonin on depression. Am J Psychiatry 1976; 133:1181-1186.

In a double-blind crossover study with only 6 depressed patients, melatonin was found to have a negative impact on mood. There was no placebo control.

Dalton, E. et al. Use of slow-release melatonin in treatment-resistant depression. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2000 January; 25(1): 48–52.

In a four week trial of only 9 depressed patients who had not responded to drugs, SR-melatonin was administered. It did not significantly improve depressed symptoms, and there was no placebo control.

Lewy, A. et al. Melatonin treatment of winter depression: a pilot study. Psychiatry Research. Volume 77, Issue 1, 16 January 1998, Pages 57-61.

In a placebo-controlled trial of only 5 depressed patients, low doses of melatonin in the afternoon showed significant antidepressive effects.

Mendlewicz, J. et al. Abnormal 24 hour pattern of melatonin secretion in depression. Lancet. 1979 Dec 22-29;2(8156-8157):1362.

Reviewed evidence that people suffering from depression have low levels of melatonin and an abnormal pattern of the chemical's secretion.

Nair NP, Hariharasubramanian N, Pilapil C. Circadian rhythm of plasma melatonin in endogenous depression. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1984;8(4-6):715-8.

Tested the melatonin levels in the blood of young, old and depressed men over a 24 hour period. Found that depressed men have lower levels of melatonin, that it has an earlier peak and a later fall-off than controls.

Crasson, M. et al. Serum melatonin and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in major depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 29, Issue 1, January 2004, Pages 1-12.

Tested melatonin levels in 14 depressed subjects and 14 matched controls. Found that total melatonin levels did not differ significantly, but confirmed that depressed subject have a delayed melatonin cycle.

This site is maintained by Tim Desmond, MFTI 51287
copyright © 2007 Tim Desmond, MA. Last updated 31Jul2008.
Depression Treatment Works displays no paid advertising.