title: Depression: biological and neuroendocrine aspects.
abstract: Distorted biorhythms and altered neuroendocrine function may accompany depressive disorders. Restoration of the above derangements occurs with effective therapy, whereas persistence of the biological abnormalities is found in patients incompletely cured and may be predictive of early relapse. The commonest hormonal abnormalities are: decreased suppressibility of the ACTH-cortisol axis to dexamethasone, subnormal thyrotropin response to TRH and growth hormone release to hypoglycemia; attenuated gonadotropin production and abnormal light-dark entrained melatonin secretion. The observed hormonal derangements seem to be epiphenomena of the primary disorder. The reversibility of the disordered neuroendocrine control with treatment of the depressive syndrome suggests that the hormonal abnormalities represent a state rather than trait disorders. Finally, the lack of similar neuroendocrine derangements in schizophrenia or secondary exogenous depression suggests that different neurochemical alterations underlie these disorders.
mesh_terms: D001683:Biological Clocks; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior