Changes in pupil reaction to light in melancholic patients

The aim of the current study was to compare the pupil reaction to light in depressed patients and normal control subjects. Seven depressed patients wi th melancholic features according to DSM-IV criteria and 14 age- and gender -matched control subjects took part in the study. All were free of any medi cation for at least 2 weeks. All were aged between 25 and 50 years. An opti cal method was used to assess the pupil reaction to a single flash. Depress ed patients manifested shorter latency for constriction than control subjec ts, and a marginal difference in the total work produced by acetylcholine. The results of the current study support the theory that there is a norepin ephrine hypoactivity in melancholic depression, with less affected acetylch oline activity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.