108S BIOL. PSYCHIATRY 1997;42:1S-297S Poster session n and Nicotinamide per Os clearance. We found a strong correlation between the seasonal appearance of psychotic episodes and a significative rising In urinary levels of excretion of Bu and N, N-DMT, accompanied by a lowering in urinary excretion of nicotinamide. The use of this vitamin In psychotic patients was postulated In the sixties as a way of eliminating methyl radicals excess, within the concept of the transmethylation Hypothesis of Schizophrenia. 139-1 031 Effect of antidepressants on polymorphonuclear elastase levels In patients with depression M. Bekaroglu 1, O. DeOer 2, S.C. Karahan 2, M. Bllicl 1, C. Soylu 1, A. Orem 2. 1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University. Trabzon, Turkey. 2Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University. Trabzon. Turkey We have previously reported that severe depression Is associated with immunological and inflammatory alterations and the alterations may be showed easily by polymorphonuclear (PMN) elastase measurements (Bioi Psychiatr 39: 357-63, 1996). Aim of the present study Is to show how PMN elastase levels during and after drug treatment is. Methods: Fifty-five patients with depression (40 with major depression, 15 with dysthimic disorder) were Included to the study. Blood samples were drawn prior to drug treatment, 1 month, 3 month, after the treatment. Of the patients, 28 were received moclobemlde and 27 received imipramine. PMN elastase, some acute phase reactants were determined In three periodS. Results: Patients were divided to three subgroups according to three PMN elastase measurements: i. those who have normal levels in each of the three measurements (17 patients), ii. those who have high levels (first month) and low levels (third month)(28 patients), and Iii. those who have continuous decreasing trend (10 patients). There were similar behaviour for acute phase reactants. Conclusion: PMN elastase measurements may be used a sensitive biological marker to follow the time-course of disease activity in patients with depression. 139-1 041 Harm avoidance dimension of the tridimensional personality questionnaire (TPQ) and 5-HT1A activity In depressed patients William Pitchot, Michel Hansenne, Antonio Gonzalez Moreno. Jean Regers. Pierre-Yves Machurot, Marc Ansseau. Psychiatric Unit, C.H.U. du Sart Tilman, B-4000 Uege. BelgIum Over the past decade, Cloninger and colleagues have developed a biosoclal model of personality based on three fundamental dimensions: Novelty seeking, harm avoidance and reward dependence. Each dimension has been related to a specific central neurotransmitter. In fact, novelty seeking has been theoretically associated to dopamlnerglc activity; harm avoidance to serotonergic activity; and reward dependence to noradrenergic activity. In the present study, the relationship between the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire and the serotonerglc activity was examined In a sample of 21 major depressive inpatients (DSM-IV). Hormonal and temperature responses to flesinoxan, a highly potent and selective 5-HT1A agonist, were used as an indirect measure of serotonergic actiVity. The results showed a significant relationship between the harm avoidance dimension and the prolactin response to flesinoxan, a highly potent and selective 5-HT1 A agonist (r .. 0.47, P• 0.03). Moreover, the harm avoidance dimension was correlated with the severity of depression. This study supports the hypothesis that harm avoidance dimension Is related to serotonergic activity, and confirms the link between this dimension and depression. 139-1 os! Increased membrane phospholipid breakdown In schizophrenic patients during neuroleptic treatment A. Schmitt, L Scheuer, A. Maras, G. Petroianu, W.F. Gattaz. Central Institute of Mental Health, Institute of Pharmacology, Mannheim. Germany Introduction: Recent Investigations in membrane phospholipid metabolism Indicate an accelerated breakdown of phosphatidylcholine. In an indepen• dent study we found Increased concentrations of the cytotoxic product Lyso• Phosphatidyl-eholine (LPC) in platelets of neuroleptic-naive schizophrenic patients compared with healthy and psychiatric controls. The present study was performed to Investigate the effects of neuroleptic therapy over a period of 1 year con phospholipid metabolism. Material & Methods: Phospholipid fraction components were determined by HPTLC In 45 DSM-III-R schizophrenic patients before medication and during a 1-year follow up under neuroleptic treatment. Results: During the first 2 weeks neuroleptic medication reduced signif• Icantly the concentration of LPC (p < 0.01). but the level increased In 1he third week and remained elevated over a period of 12 months. Conclusion: These findings suggest only a short and reversible effect 01 neuroleptic treatment on the accelerated breakdown of membrane ph0spho• lipids in schizophrenia. Recent MR-spectroscopy studies reported similar changes In the frontal cortex of first-episode. never treated schizophrenic patients and reduced levels of phospholipid-precursors In chronic, neurolep• tic treated patients. Further studies could clarify whether our findings in platelets reflect the observed results in the brain. 139-1 061 Immune modulation In resistant schizophrenic patients during long-term neuroleptic treatment S. Blgnotti' , G.B. Tura 1, G. Rossi 1 , R. PioU1, M. Maes 2, A.C. Altamura 3. 'IRCCS S. Giovanni di DiD, Brescia, Italy. 2 University Department of Psychiatry, Antwerp. Belgium. 3 University Department of Psychiatry. cagliari, Italy There are evidences Indicating as the Immune response could be Involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and as neuroleptic drugs may interfere with the modulation of immune functions. The aim of the present study 'NBS to verify whether some immune-Inflammatory markers are modified during long-term treatment of schizophrenic patients with haloperidol (HL). Methods: 72 resistant schizophrenic patients diagnosed according to OSM IV were included Into the study. These patients were classified as resistant on the basis of the data of Kane et al. (1988) and treated unsuccessfully With high HL doses (>15 mglday). 15 normal subjects were used as controls. Concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), the soluble IL-6 receptor (SIL-6R). the soluble gp 130 protein (sgp 130) and Clara cell protein (CC16) Where measured by ELISA techniques. Results: Schizophrenic subjects showed significantly higher senum c0n• centrations of sIL-6R and IL-6 than normal controls. There were not sig• nificant differences between schizophrenic subjects and nomnal control as regards sgp 130. There was a trend toward lower CC16 in schizophrenic; patients than in normal volunteers. In the whole group under analysis there were both significant and negative relationship between CC16 and IL-6.. 139-107\ Bipolar disorders: Depressive phase and phototherapy F. Bova, A. Pinto, R. Bortolon, F. Garonna. Psychiatric Department, ULSS 3. Sassano del Grappa (VI), Italy It Is disconcerting how few studies have examined seasonal patterns 01 affective episodes despite Its clinical and theoretical Importance and despite the fact that seasonal components in depression and mania have been observed for centuries. Two peaks are evident in seasonal Incidence 01 affective episodes: spring and autumn. The peak Incidence of mania Cl<:Qn in the summer month. This presentation of affective episodes S\JPPOrts the theory of abnormal response to sunlight in these patients. Methods: The Importance of the sunlight In the mood disorders Is as well known as the success of Iighttherapy In the treatment of SAD. This Is the reason why we have decided to evaluate the therapeutical effects 01 the bright light even in bipolar disorders during the depressive epiSOdes. Twenty patients have been treated with the standard procedures of the light therapy for SAD. All patients were suffering from bipolar disorder I ancs a type depressive phase. All patients have been checked with HAM-O at the beginning and at the end of the treatment and with SPAQ. Results: Preliminary findings show that the changes induced by bright light therapy In depressive episodes of bipolar disorders are effective In 75% of patients (50% reduction of the score of HAM-D). Those data PI'Ovide support for the hypothesis of effectiveness of light therapy in bipolar mood disorders. The relationship between bipolar disorders (depressive positive response to light therapy and seasonality checked with SPAQ art discussed.