Depression from a Physical Symptom

October 1971 in “ The BMJ ”

Kerry Nair

hair loss hormonal changes pregnancy oral contraceptive telogen phase alopecia birth control pills

TLDR Hair loss can be linked to hormonal changes, and physical conditions like heart defects can cause depression.

The document discusses two main topics: the relationship between hair loss and hormonal changes due to pregnancy and oral contraceptive use, and a case study of a male patient with severe headaches and depression linked to coarctation of the aorta. The first part describes a 27-year-old woman who experienced significant hair loss after stopping oral contraceptive treatment and again after pregnancy, suggesting a similar pathogenesis for hair loss in both situations. The patient's hair loss was characterized by a high number of hairs shed and a high percentage of hairs in the telogen phase. Despite extensive testing, no other abnormalities were found, and the hair loss was not severe enough to cause alopecia. The second part details a 36-year-old male patient who suffered from severe headaches and depression due to untreated hypertension. Upon further examination, it was discovered that the patient had coarctation of the aorta, which was causing his symptoms. After surgical resection of the coarctation, the patient's symptoms, including depression, resolved, and he was able to return to work. The document concludes with a brief mention of a study on the effects of anticonvulsant drugs on chromosomes, indicating that these drugs can cause chromosomal abnormalities that may return to normal after discontinuation of treatment.

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