Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity in clinical subtypes of depression.

Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was determined in male adult psychiatric patients (n = 280) and age-matched male healthy controls (n = 100). Patients included in the study had no history of previous or current exposure to psychoactive drugs and were diagnosed according to Research Diagnostic Criteria. A significant decrease in serum DBH activity was noted in patients with psychotic major depressive disorder (n = 50) as compared with controls. In acute schizophrenics (n = 100), nonpsychotic major depressives (n = 45) and patients with manic disorder (n = 85), mean DBH activity did not differ significantly from the control values.