Objectives.
High frequency of depressive disorder and metabolic syndrome comorbidity suggests shared biological mechanisms for both disorders. The important risk factor for metabolic dysfunction in patients with depression is the impact of psychopharmacotherapy on endocrine system.
Background and aims.
The aim of our study was to analyze the impact of hormonal profile on metabolic syndrome and antidepressant-induced weight gain in patients with major depressive disorder.
Materials and methods.
89 inpatients with major depression (74% females, mean age – 45,04±11,4 years) were evaluated at baseline and after 6 weeks of antidepressant therapy (SSRI, TCA). Clinical evaluation (weight, BMI, waist circumference; waist-hip ratio: weight gain), psychometric instruments (HDRS 17, DEBQ) and laboratory panel (thyroid hormones, sex steroids, leptin, insulin, lipidogram) were used in the assessment.
Results.
45% of the patients were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome during initial evaluation. After the course of antidepressant treatment the cluster of metabolic dysfunction increased up to 58% of the cohort (φ*=1,808; p<0,05). Patients with lower levels of thyroid axis hormones (p=0,0000) and testosterone (p=0,0000) and higher levels of leptin (p<0,01) at baseline were at higher risks of antidepressant-induced weight gain. Patients with significant antidepressant-induced weight gain also showed higher increase in insulin (p<0,05) and prolactin (p<0,01) levels after 6 weeks of treatment.
Conclusions.
Certain hormonal profiles are associated with the higher risks of antidepressant-induced weight gain and could be used as the predictors of metabolic side-effects in patients receiving antidepressant treatment.

THE IMPACT OF HORMONAL PROFILE ON ANTIDEPRESSANT-INDUCED WEIGHT GAIN IN PATIENTS WITH DEPRESSION