Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 77 (2), 107-116 (1998)


The Role of Calcium in the Etiology of the Affective Disorders

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


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1998

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