Serum lipid profiles in major depression with clinical subtypes, suicide attempts and episodes

Background: We tried to report the data between serum lipid profiles and major depression with different clinical subtypes, with or without suicide attempts, and with single episode or recurrent episodes. Method: During a 2-year period, a total of 168 participants (109 patients with major depression and 59 subjects in a healthy control group) were recruited in this study. Blood samples for serum lipid profiles in all participants were collected. Data analysis was performed by using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with body mass index (BMI) adjustment. Results: The data showed that there were no significant differences of any kind in serum lipid profiles between depressive patients with melancholic feature or atypical feature, with or without suicide attempts nor between depressive patients with single episode or recurrent episodes. Conclusion: The results suggested there were no serum lipid profiles used as biological markers to distinguish the clinical subtypes, suicide attempts and episodes in patients with major depression. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.