Sadness, irritability, insomnia, thoughts of suicide and crying spells are just a few of the many symptoms of clinical depression. Depression affects every aspect of an individual's life, from his relationship with their families to his employment situation. Researchers have explored melatonin, a hormone naturally produced by the body, as a possible treatment for clinical depression. Unfortunately, although melatonin supplements do not help with major depression, they do seem to alleviate the symptoms of a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain that helps to regulate circadian rhythm, commonly known as the body's "internal clock." While it is dark outside and you are sleeping, the pineal gland in your brain is a melatonin-producing factory. Once exposed to sunlight, however, your brain slows its melatonin production. Melatonin supplements are available in several forms, including sublingual lozenges that dissolve under the tongue.
Melatonin and Clinical Depression
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, melatonin supplements can actually worsen the symptoms of clinical depression. Additionally, melatonin supplements seem to reduce the effectiveness of some antidepressant medications, including fluoxetine or Prozac. Consequently, if you suffer from clinical depression, you should not take melatonin without first consulting your physician.
Melatonin and Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression typically associated with a particular time of year. People who live in climates with long winters and short days are most at risk for developing SAD. The standard treatment for SAD is light therapy, or exposure to fluorescent light that stimulates the brain to produce melatonin naturally and on schedule. One study funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health reported that taking melatonin at specific intervals throughout the day may be a similarly effective treatment for SAD.
Melatonin Analog
A study conducted by Ian Hickie, M.D., and Naomi Rogers, Ph.D., showed that a melatonin analog called agomelatine was as effective in treating clinical depression as common antidepressants like fluoxetine and venlafaxine. Agomelatine works by binding to melatonin receptors in the brain and blocking the receptors of another hormone called serotonin. Although agomelatine has not yet been approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration, the results of this study are promising since agomelatine does not carry the negative side effects of traditional antidepressants.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health; Properly Timed Light, Melatonin Lift Winter Depression by Syncing Rhythms; May 2006
- Medscape News; Melatonin Analog May Have Role in Treating Major Depression; Fran Lowry; May 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Melatonin
- PubMed Health: Seasonal Affective Disorder
- MayoClinic.com; Depression (Major Depression); February 2010
