Low lumbar bone mineral density in patients with major depression

Ulrich Schweiger*, Michael Deuschle, Andreas Körner, Claas Hinrich Lammers, Jürgen Schmider, Ulrike Gotthardt, Florian Holsboer, Isabella Heuser

*Corresponding author for this work
145 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Major depression is associated with hypercorticoidism, a risk factor for osteoporosis. However, it is unknown whether depressive disorders are associated with alterations in bone mineral density. The authors measured the density of trabecular bone from the first to the third lumbar vertebra by quantitative computerized tomography in 80 depressed inpatients older than 40 years and in 57 healthy comparison subjects. An analysis of covariance model with age as a covariate showed a significant effect of diagnosis on the dependent variable spinal bone mineral density: depressed patients had lower values. Other factors could not explain the finding. The authors conclude that major depression is a significant risk factor for osteoporosis.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry
Volume151
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)1691-1693
Number of pages3
ISSN0002-953X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11.1994

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

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