Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Personality factors predisposing to depression correlate significantly negatively with M1-muscarinic and β-adrenergic receptor densities on blood cells

  • Published:
European archives of psychiatry and neurological sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A relationship between psychological and neurobiological predisposition factors for affective disorders has been suggested. The aim of the present study was to test this hypothesis. As predisposition measures of affective disorders, muscarinic and β-adrenergic receptors densities on blood cells and personality traits were determined in 16 male volunteers. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), Freiburger Personality Inventory (FPI), and Premorbid Personality Inventory (PPI) were used for personality assessment. The erythrocyte muscarinic receptor density (mainly M1 subtype) correlated highly significantly negatively with depression on the MMPI (r = −0.71; P < 0.001) as well as significantly positively with reactive aggressiveness (dominance) on the FPI (r = 0.48; P < 0.05) and extraversion on the PPI (r = 0.46; P < 0.05). The β-adrenoceptor density on lymphocytes correlated significantly negatively with spontaneous aggressiveness (r = −0.51; P<0.05) on the FPI. These results are the first evidence that premorbid personality traits of depressives are related to M1-muscarinic and β-adrenergic receptors densities. It is speculated that decreased β-adrenergic receptor densities might predispose an individual to major depression whereas a decrease of M1-muscarinic receptor densities could play a role in the development of minor depressions. The findings of the present study are compatible with the postulated relationship between personality and neu robiological predisposition factors of depressive disorders. They suggest the participation of neurobiological factors in the development of personality traits predisposing to depression. However, they seem to be nonspecific for depression and are probably neither a sufficient nor a necessary cause of this disorder. Additional biological or psychological factors seem to be required for the development of clinical depressions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allikmets LH (1974) Cholinergic mechanism in aggressive behavior. Med Biol 52:19–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Anisman H (1984) Vulnerability to depression: contribution of stress. In: Post RM, Ballenger JC (eds) Neurobiology of mood disorders. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore London, pp 407–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Angst J, Clayton P (1986) Premorbid personality of depressive, bipolar, and schizophrenic patients with special reference to suicidal issues. Compreh Psychiatry 27:511–532

    Google Scholar 

  • Aronstam RS, Abood LG, McNeil MK (1977) Muscarinic cholinergic binding in human erythrocyte membranes. Life Sci 20:1175–1180

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckmann H (1978) Biochemische Grundlagen der endogenen Depression. Nervenarzt 49:557–568

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckmann H (1986) Investigations of the cholinergic-adrenergic balance in affective disorders. In: Hippius H, Klerman GL, Matussek N (eds) New results in depression research. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 196–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckmann H, Moises HW (1982) The cholinolytic biperiden in depression. An acute placebo controlled study. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 231:213–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger M, Höchli D, Zulley J, Lauer C, Zerssen Dv (1985) Cholinomimetic drug RS 86, REM sleep, and depression. Lancet II:1385–1386

    Google Scholar 

  • Bering B, Müller WE (1987) Stereospecific 3H-QNB binding to human erythrocyte membranes associated with muscarinic cholinergic receptors. J Neural Transm 68:97–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Bering B, Moises HW, Müller WE (1987) Muscarinic cholinergic receptors on intact human lymphocytes — Properties and subclass characterization. Biol Psychiatry 22:1451–1458

    Google Scholar 

  • Blankenburg W (1973) Prämorbide Persönlichkeit. In: Müller C (ed) Lexikon der Psychiatrie. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 374–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaser P, Gehring A (1972) Ein programmierter Kurs zur deutschsprachigen Ausgabe des Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory von SR Hathaway and JC McKinley. Hans Huber, Bern

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyum A (1968) Isolation of mononuclear cells and granulocytes from human blood. Scand J Clin Invest 21:77–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodde OE, Kretsch R, Ikezono K, Zerkowski HR, Reidemeister JC (1986) Human beta-adrenoceptors: relation of myocardial and lymphocyte beta-adrenoceptor density. Science 231:1584–1585

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchsbaum MS, Coursey RD, Murphy DL (1976) The biochemical high-risk paradigm: behavioral and familial correlates of low platelet monoamine oxidase activity. Science 194:339–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunney WE, Davis JM (1965) Norepinephrine in depressive states. A review. Arch Gen Psychiatry 13:484–494

    Google Scholar 

  • Chodoff P (1972) The depressive personality: A critical review. Arch Gen Psychiatry 27:666–673

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis KL, Berger PA, Hollister LE, Defraites E (1978) Physostigmine in mania. Arch Gen Psychiatry 35:119–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Dietzfelbinger T (1985) Quantifizierende Erfassung biographische Aspekte und prämorbider Persbnlichkeitsdimensionen bei Neurosen und Endogenen Psychosen. MD Thesis, Technical University München, München

    Google Scholar 

  • Extein, I, Tallman, Smith CC, Goodwin FK (1979) Changes in lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptors in depression and mania. Psychiatry Res 1:191–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Fahrenberg J, Selg H, Hampel R (1978) Das Freiburger Persönlichkeitsinventar FPI, 3. Aufl. Hogrefe, Göttingen Toronto Zürich

  • Frey R (1977) Premorbid personality of monopolar and bipolar depressives. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 224:16–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Gershon ES, Nadi NS, Nurnberger JI, Berrettini WH (1985) Failure to confirm muscarinic receptors on skin fibroblasts (Letter). N Engl J Med 312:862

    Google Scholar 

  • Gershon ES, Nurnberger JI, Sitaram N (1986) Recent genetic findings in mood disorders. In: Hippius H, Klerman GL, Matussek N (eds) New results in depression research. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 45–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillin JC, Sitaram N, Wehr T, Duncan W, Post R, Murphy DL, Mendelson WB, Wyatt RJ, Bunney WE Jr (1984) Sleep and affective illness. In: Post RM, Ballenger JC (eds) Neurobiology of mood disorders. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 157–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Gisselmann A, Marin A, Simon P (1975) Etude pilot des effets d'un antiparkinsonien anticholinergique an cours d'etats depressifs. Encephale 1:363–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Hathaway SR, McKinley JC (1942–1967) Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Psychological Corporation, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy D, Carney PA, Leonhard BE (1983) Monoamine-related markers of depression: changes following treatment. J Psychiatr Res 17:251–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschfeld RMA (1986) Personality and bipolar disorder. In: Hippius H, Klerman GL, Matussek N (eds) New results in depression research. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 45–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Janowsky DS, El-Yousef MK, Davis JM, Sekerke HJ (1972) A cholinergic-adrenergic hypothesis of mania and depression. Lancet II:632–635

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasper S, Moises HW, Beckmann H (1981) The anticholinergic biperiden in depressive disorders. Pharmacopsychiatry 14:195–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelsoe JR, Gillin JC, Janowsky DS, Brown JH, Risch SC, Lumkin B (1985) Failure to confirm muscarinic receptors on skin fibroblasts (Letter). N Engl J Med 312:861

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendell RE, Discipio WJ (1968) Eysenck Personality Inventory scores of patients with depressive illnesses. Br J Psychiatry 114:767–770

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenox RH, Hitzemann RJ, Richelson E, Kelsoe (1985) Failure to confirm muscarinic receptors on skin fibroblasts (Letter). N Engl J Med 312:861

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann JJ, Brown RP, Halper JP, Sweeney JA, Kocsis JH, Stokes PE, Bilezikian JP (1985) Reduced sensitivity of lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptors in patients with endogenous depression and psychomotor agitation. N Engl J Med 313:715–720

    Google Scholar 

  • Matussek N (1966) Neurobiologie und Depression. Med Monatsschr 20:109–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Matussek N (1978) Neuroendokrinologische Untersuchungen bei depressives Syndromen. Nervenarzt 49:569–575

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendelson M (1974) Psychoanalytic concepts of depression. Spectrum, Flushing/New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Modestin J, Hunger J, Schwartz RB (1973) Über die depressogene Wirkung vos Physostigmin. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 218:67–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Moises HW, Waldmeier P, Beckmann (1986) Urinary phenylethylamine correlates positively with hypomania, and negatively with depression, paranoia, and social introversion of the MMPI. Eur Arch Psychiatr Neurol Sci 236:83–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers RD (1974) Handbook of drug and chemical stimulation of the brain. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadi NS, Nurnberg JI Jr, Gershon ES (1984) Muscarinic cholinergic receptors in skin fibroblasts in familial affective disorder. N Engl J Med 311:225–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Nurnberger JI Jr, Gershon ES (1984) Genetics of affective disorders. In: Post RM, Ballenger JC (eds) Neurobiology of mood disorders. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore London, pp 76–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Paykel ES, Klerman GL, Prusoff BA (1976) Personality and symptom pattern in depression. Br J Psychiatry 129:327–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Praag van HM (1980) Central monoamine metabolism in depressions. I. Serotonin and related compounds. Compreh Psychiatry 1980; 21:30–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Risch SC, Janowsky DS (1984) Cholinergic-adrenergic balance in affective illness. In: Post RM, Ballenger JC (eds) Neurobiology of mood disorders. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore London, pp 652–663

    Google Scholar 

  • Schildkraut JJ (1965) The catecholamine hypothesis of affective disorders: a review of supporting evidence. Am J Psychiatry 122:509–522

    Google Scholar 

  • Sitaram N, Nurnberger JI Jr, Gershon ES, Gillin JC (1982) cholinergic regulation of mood and REM sleep: potential model and marker of vulnerability to affective disorder. Am J Psychiatry 139:571–576

    Google Scholar 

  • Sitaram N, Gillin JC, Bunney WE Jr (1984) Cholinergic and catecholaminergic receptor sensitivity in affective illness: strategy and theory. In: Post RM, Ballenger JC (eds) Neurobiology of mood disorders. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore London, pp 629–651

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder SH, Yamamura HI (1977) Antidepressants and the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. Arch Gen Psychiatry 34:236–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Sulser F, Vetulani J, Mobley PL (1978) Mode of action of antidepressant drugs. Biochem Pharmacol 27:257–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Tellenbach H (1980) Melancholy: History of the problem: endogeneity, typology and clinical features. English Edn., translated from German by E. Eng. Dusquesne University Press, Pittsburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Tollefson GD, Senogles SE, Frey WH, Tuason VB, Nicol SE (1982) A comparison of peripheral and central human muscarinic cholinergic receptor affinities for psychotropic drugs. Biol Psychiatry 17:555–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandenberg SG (1967) Hereditary factors in normal personality traits (as measured by inventories). In: Wortis J (ed) Recent advances in biological psychiatry, vol 9. Plenum Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahlen RE, Simon NG (1984) Biological motivation. Annu Rev Psychol 35:257–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldmeier PC (1981) Noradrenergic transmission in depression: under- or overfunction? Pharmkopsychiatria 14 (1 Suppl):3–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood K, Whiting K, Coppen A (1986) Lymphocyte betaadrenergic receptor density of patients with recurrent affective illness. J Affective Disord 10:3–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright AF, Crichton DN, London JB, Morten JEN, Steel CM (1984) Beta-adrenoceptor binding defects in cell lines from families with manic-depressive disorder. Ann Hum Genet 48:201–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Zerbin-Rüdin E (1980a) Genetics of Affective Psychoses. In: van Praag H, Lader MH, Rafaelsen OJ, Sachar EJ (eds) Handbook of biological psychiatry. Part III. Brain mechanisms and abnormal behavior — genetics and neuroendocrinology. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 35–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Zerbin-Rüdin E (1980b) Genetic factors in neurosis, psychopathy, and alcoholism. In: Praag HM, Lader MH, Rafaelsen OJ, Sachar EJ (eds) Handbook of biological psychiatry. Part III. Brain mechanisms and abnormal behavior — genetics and neuroendocrinology. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 59–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Zerssen von D (1976) Der „Typus melancholicus” in psychometrischer Sicht. Z Klin Psychol Psychopathol Psychother 24:200–220, 305–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Zerssen von D (1980) Persönlichkeitsforschung bei Depressionen. In: Heimann H, Giedke H (eds) Neue Perspektiven der Depressionsforschung. Hans Huber, Bern, pp 155–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Zerssen von D (1982) Personality and affective disorders. In: Paykel ES (ed) Handbook of affective disorders. Churchill Livingstone, London, pp 212–228

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Hans W. Moises

    Present address: Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 94305, Stanford, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatric Clinic, Central Institute of Mental Health, J 5, D-6800, Mannheim 1, Germany

    Hans W. Moises

  2. Psychopharmacological Laboratory, Central Institute of Mental Health, J 5, D-6800, Mannheim 1, Germany

    Birgit Beringe & Walter E. Müller

Authors
  1. Hans W. Moises
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Birgit Beringe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Walter E. Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

H.W.M. was supported by research grant Mo 429/1-1 from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moises, H.W., Beringe, B. & Müller, W.E. Personality factors predisposing to depression correlate significantly negatively with M1-muscarinic and β-adrenergic receptor densities on blood cells. Eur Arch Psychiatr Neurol Sci 237, 209–217 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00449909

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00449909

Key words

Search

Navigation