Concentration of melatonin in blood serum of patients with alcohol use disorder: correlations with atypical depressive symptoms and anhedonia

Roshchina Olga Vyacheslavovna, Levchuk Lyudmila Alexandrovna, Boiko Anastasiia Sergeevna, Schastnyy Evgeny Dmitrievich, Ivanova Svetlana Alexandrovna

Neurotransmitter and hormonal systems, including those regulating circadian rhythms, are involved in the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence. The article presents the pilot results of assessing the concentration of melatonin in the blood serum of patients with alcohol use disorder and a searching of significant correlations of the level of melatonin with the main characteristics of the clinical condition of patients. Clinical-dynamic and laboratory examination of 22 patients with alcoholism in the dynamics of pharmacotherapy provided; a control group included 26 healthy individuals. In patients with alcohol use disorder, statistically significant correlations of serum melatonin level with the severity of depressive symptoms upon admission to the clinic and with severe anhedonia syndrome after 4 weeks of therapy were revealed.

Keywords:alcohol use disorder, melatonin, atypical depression symptoms, anhedonia, antidepressant and anticraving therapy.