Daiga M. Helmeste and Siu Wa Tang
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Irvine, North Campus
Zot 1681, Irvine, California 92697-1681, USA
Abstract: Calcium abnormalities are some of the more consistent
findings in platelets of affective disorder patients. While medication status
does not correlate with this finding, antidepressants do modulate intracellular
calcium. This, in combination with reports that calcium channel inhibitors
may have antidepressant potential, suggests that calcium may play an important
role in this disorder. This paper reviews the specificity of calcium abnormalities
for the affective disorders and also discusses possible mechanisms of action.
Keywords: Intracellular signaling, Calcium, Platelet, Serotonin, Affective
disorder