title: Effect of fluoxetine on dexamethasone-induced growth hormone release in depression: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors' objective was to characterize the effects of fluoxetine treatment on dexamethasone-induced growth hormone (GH) responses in depressed patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients (six women and six men) with major depression diagnosed according to DSM-III-R underwent dexamethasone-induced GH stimulation before and after random assignment to 4 weeks of treatment with either placebo (N = 6) or fluoxetine (N = 6).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All six patients treated with fluoxetine and two of the six patients given placebo demonstrated an increase in their dexamethasone-induced GH responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical recovery was associated with an increase in GH release in response to dexamethasone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Thakore
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Dinan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D005473:Fluoxetine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D013006:Growth Hormone