[Serotoninergic and catecholaminergic indices in patients with neurotic and depressive disorders and changes in them as a result of reflexotherapy].

The status of the serotoninergic and catecholaminergic systems was studied in patients with neurotic depressive disorders before and after acupuncture (AP). The parameters studied included blood serotonin levels, monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in the blood serum, as well as urinary excretion of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, DOPA and 5-HOIAA. Prior to AP patients with anxiety-depressive, depressive-hypochondriac or asthenodepressive manifestations showed different changes in the parameters studied. Following a course of AP they presented a compensatory increase in MAO activity, normalization of blood serotonin levels and of the urinary excretion of noradrenaline, dopamine and DOPA. Improvement in biochemical parameters indicates that this type of therapy is an effective means of the treatment of patients with neuroses with the predominance of depressive disorders.