Early-morning administration of short-acting beta blockers for treatment of winter depression.

摘要: Propranolol, 60 mg or less, was administered daily between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. to 33 patients with winter depression. After open treatment a mean dose of mg/day, 24 (73%) met the remission criteria; 23 completed double-blind continuation placebo substitution. Subjects who continued receive propranolol had increase in Hamilton depression score 3.5, whereas switched an 11.2; difference statistically significant. These findings are consistent hypothesis that duration nocturnal melatonin secretion is critical seasonal time cue humans