Analysis of relationships between calcaneum bone strength and depressive characters in young women

Abstract

Major depression is associated with hypercorticoidism, a risk factor for osteoporosis. Our purpose was to determine whether depressive character and the a little hypercorticoidism would affect the calcaneum bone strength which was measured by ultra-sound bone densitometer in healthy women. As results, it was clarified that young women who have both depressive tendencies and higher serum cortisol levels show reduced bone strength. Consequently, it is suggested that psychiatric assessment and treatment in young women who show lower level of bone strength might be a useful method to prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis in future.