Variations in Body Water during Recovery from Depression

Abstract

Reports of significant changes in water and electrolytes during recovery from depression may provide insight into important physiological factors in depressive illnesses. Brown et al. (1963) demonstrated an increase in the extracellular fluid volume in 22 of 28 patients suffering from primary depressive disorders treated with E.C.T. or imipramine. The findings of these authors, which were discussed in relation to previous work on sodium metabolism and water balance in depressive disorders, were thought to support the idea of a shift of fluid from intracellular to extracellular spaces during the response to treatment. Coppen and Shaw (1963) found an increase in total body water, extracellular fluid and a decrease in the residual sodium space on recovery from depression.

Urine concentration in depressive illness

“…They also found that on recovery total body water and extracellular water increased. Hullin, Bailey, McDonald, Dransfield, and Milne (1967) confirmed the latter finding. Jenner and his colleagues have studied an antidiuretic factor in the urine of a patient with a depressive periodic psychosis and suggested that the water retention is in part produced by vasopressin or a related substance (Goodwin and Jenner, 1967).…”

Changes in Sodium, Potassium and Body Fluid Spaces in Depression and Dementia

“…The demented patients have a slightly increased TBW and percentage body water over the controls, however, the difference is not significant. There was only a slight decrease in ECF as a percentage of BWt when comparing the depressed group with the controls, a decrease which is not significant within 95% confidence limits, which does not confirm the findings of H ullin [5]. The results show no significant changes in the ICF when comparing either the depressed or demented groups with the controls; although when related to BWt as a percentage, ICF is slightly raised in dementia and lowered in depression.…”

“…H ullin [5] studied depressed patients during and after a course of electro convulsive therapy which relieved the depression, and found that during recovery there were significant increases in BWt, TBVV, ECF, and percentage body water; however, after recovery when the ECT course was complete, TBW and percentage body water began to decrease and the BWt to increase. BWt increased progressively throughout the study.…”

Lithium in Depression

“…Our body fluid compartment results agree with both those of Coppen and Shaw (1967) and Hullin (1967) who found that the TBW and ICF volumes all [A fte r L iC O } 6 0 5 ? 2.8 6 7 4 * 1 .…”