title: Prediction of subtype and severity of depression by means of dexamethasone suppression test, L-tryptophan: competing amino acid ratio, and MHPG flow.
abstract: The score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the L-tryptophan:competing amino acid (valine + leucine) (L-TRP:CAA) ratio, and the 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) flow in 24-hr urine were recorded in 83 depressed patients undergoing a Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST). The subjects were diagnostically subdivided according to DSM-III into minor depression (296.82, 300.40, 309.00), major depression without melancholia (296.X2), with melancholia (296.X3), or with psychotic features (296.X4). Minor depression, major depression with melancholia, and major depression with psychotic features can be regarded as distinct biological entities. Major depression without melancholia is a heterogeneous group with reference to the biological markers. By combining these biological data with age in a discriminant function analysis, 81.9% of all depressed patients can be correctly classified into minor or major depression groups. The combined biological markers can also be used to predict the severity of the depression; 42.5% of the variance in the HDRS score is accounted for by multiple regression on the biological figures. Multivariate statistical techniques considerably improve prediction for both subtype and severity of depression.
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006018:Glycols / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000652:urine*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D006018:Glycols; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D003907:Dexamethasone