title: Pituitary-adrenal regulation over multiple depressive episodes.
abstract: Pituitary-adrenal activity was evaluated with the dexamethasone suppression test in 11 patients over their multiple hospitalizations for major depression. All six patients who were suppressors during their index admission had one subsequent admission over the period of study during which they were again suppressors. Of five patients who were nonsuppressors during their index admission, three had one subsequent admission and two had three subsequent admissions. Four of these patients were again nonsuppressors during a subsequent admission. For patients who were nonsuppressors during some but not all admissions for depression, pituitary-adrenal activity appeared related to the persistence of the depressive episodes.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone