title: Clinical investigations into antidepressive mechanisms. II. Dexamethasone suppression test predicts response to nomifensine or amitriptyline.
abstract: This prospective study investigates the possibility of a central noradrenergic-cholinergic imbalance in subgroups of depressed inpatients using the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) as one peripheral indicator. The DST was performed in 43 depressed inpatients. Subsequently, a group (n = 20) of DST suppressors (DST-) and a group (n = 23) of DST nonsuppressors (DST+) were treated under double blind conditions with either nomifensine (NOM) a noradrenaline potentiating drug, or amitriptyline (AMI) a noradrenaline potentiating and strong anticholinergic compound. DST+ depressives responded favorably to AMI, but not to NOM. Conversely, DST- depressives responded favorably to NOM but less well to AMI. Together with other biochemical findings this data suggests: 1) a hypofunction of the noradrenergic system in DST- patients who may, from a clinical point of view, usually show minor or 'neurotic' depressions; 2) a hypofunction of the noradrenergic and a hyperfunction of the cholinergic system in DST+ patients who may present a more severe or 'endogenous' depression. These data suggest a biochemical heterogeneity of depression and offer an aid for a more specific antidepressive drug therapy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009627:Nomifensine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007546:Isoquinolines; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D000639:Amitriptyline; D009627:Nomifensine; D003907:Dexamethasone