Calcium Metabolism in States of Depression

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated, in small groups of patients receiving either electric convulsive treatments or imipramine therapy, changes in calcium metabolism associated with recovery from states of depression (5, 7). Other investigators have also reported somewhat unusual changes in calcium physiology among depressed patients or during the administration of antidepressant therapies. These include low cerebrospinal fluid calcium levels (4), changes in blood calcium during electric convulsive treatments (10), and alterations in bound and ionized fractions of blood calcium during imipramine therapy (3). It is the purpose of this report to describe and discuss the changes in urinary calcium excretion in the relatively large series of patients we have now acquired.