Neuroendocrine and neurochemical measurements in depression

• DOI: 10.1176/ajp.138.12.1555
• Publication Date: 2014-12-17T19:06:10Z
• Authors: Rothpearl Ab; Kym F. Faull; Jack D. Barchas; Bonnie M. Davis; Berger Pa; Hsieh Jy; Leo E. Hollister; Aleksander A. Mathé; Kenneth L. Davis
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Depressive Disorder; Bipolar Disorder; Hydrocortisone; Probenecid; Thyrotropin; Homovanillic Acid; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; Middle Aged; Dexamethasone; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; Glycols; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; Aged; Phenylacetates

The authors performed dexamethasone suppression tests (DST), TRH infusions, 72-hour urine collections, and lumbar punctures on a group of male depressed patients. Approximately 60% of the patients were DST positive and 33% had a blunted TSH response. Two biologic variables, the 8 a.m. postdexamethasone cortisol and the postprobenecid CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), accounted for over half of the variance in the behavioral measure, the Hamilton score. Plasma cortisol elevation was associated with high 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG) excretion; TSH blunting was associated with low urinary MHPG excretion. Comprehensive biologic measures showed certain significant interrelationships and correlations with the severity of depression.