Case report shows increased suicidal thoughts following melatonin treatment in a depressed individual, suggesting caution.
Melatonin is a neurohormone that primarily regulates sleep patterns and circadian rhythms by interacting with melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2. Disruptions in circadian rhythms may contribute to mood disorders; for example, individuals with major depressive disorder often have significantly lower melatonin levels compared to healthy individuals. In this report, we present a patient who experienced a depressed mood and nighttime sleep disturbances and was treated with melatonin. In patients with depression, factors such as insomnia or poor psychosocial conditions can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts.
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Badrfam et al. (2026) studied this question.
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