Correlation between plasma cortisol and CSF catecholamines in endogenous depressed dexamethasone nonsuppressors.
Nineteen endogenous depressive in-patients (13 with major depression and 6 with bipolar disorder-depressed) and 10 other patients with dysthymic disorder serving as the control group were given the dexamethasone suppression test (DST, 1 mg/subject). The results showed that the DST sensitivity in endogenous depressives was 73.7% and the specificity was 90%. After the patients were treated daily for 6 weeks with 150-200 mg imipramine, 88.9% of those endogenous depressive patients who previously had a positive DST response exhibited a negative response. Moreover, a significantly negative correlation was found between the CSF norepinephrine level and the pre-dexamethasone 4 p.m. plasma cortisol level in those endogenous depressed patients who had a positive DST response. Pre-treatment data also showed that the 4 p.m. plasma cortisol had a significant negative correlation with CSF dopamine. These findings suggest that endogenous depression with positive DST could be related not only to a lower norepinephrine level, but also to a lower dopamine level.
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004298:Dopamine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D003907:Dexamethasone; D007099:Imipramine; D004298:Dopamine; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine