BETA-ENDORPHIN CONCENTRATION IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS OFELDERLY DEPRESSED-PATIENTS - EFFECTS OF PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE THERAPY

beta-Endorphin (beta-EP) concentrations were measured in peripheral bl ood mononuclear cells of 10 elderly women with major depressive disord ers, 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls and 10 young healthy con trols. beta-EP values were measured in resting condition and after sti mulation with corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). In patients, beta -EP values were measured in drug-free condition and after 30 days of t reatment with phosphatidylserine (BCPS), 200 mg/day, p.o. Basal and CR H-stimulated beta-EP concentrations were the same in patients and cont rols; in patients they did not change after BCPS, in spite of signific ant improvement of the depressive symptomatology.