MHPG excretion in depression.

3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG) was measured in 24-hour urine collections obtained from 44 drug-free patients hospitalized for a major depressive disorder, MHPG was significantly lower in a group of three biopolar 1 patients than in a group of unipolar patients. The excretion of MHPG did not significantly differ among patients classified as psychoatic, agitated, or retarded subtypes of depression as compared to patients not assigned to these subtypes.