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Plasma Levels of β-Endorphin in Depressed Patients

With and without Pain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

R. J. Daly ,
P. F. Duggan ,
P. J. Bracken ,
H. J. Doonan  and
N. J. Kelleher
R. J. Daly*
Affiliation:
Professorial Psychiatric Unit
P. F. Duggan
Affiliation:
Biochemistry Laboratory
P. J. Bracken
Affiliation:
Professorial Psychiatric Unit
H. J. Doonan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry
N. J. Kelleher
Affiliation:
Biochemistry Laboratory
*
∗Cork Regional Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland
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Abstract

We studied 27 patients who complained of pain, for which no organic basis could be found, and 11 patients without pain. All patients were depressed according to clinical diagnosis and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores. Plasma β-endorphin levels were found not to differ between the two groups or across other variables. The patients who complained of pain had significantly higher scores on the BDI.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 150 , Issue 2 , February 1987 , pp. 224 - 227
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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