The association between norepinephrine and metabolism in patients with major depression

Elevated levels of p-NE observed in patients with major depression were attributable to daily smoking, rather than to the depressive disorder. Important associations were found between p-NE and metabolic variables that affect cardiovascular risk. This is interesting from a clinical point of view, since affected individuals may benefit from simple and inexpensive treatments that influence sympathetic activity. All associations were independent of disease status.