Neuroendocrine and sleep variables in major depressed inpatients: role of severity.
To evaluate the reliability of the endogenous concept of depressive illness according to the Newcastle Endogenous Depression Diagnostic Index (NEDDI), 155 major depressive inpatients with NEDDI scores > or = 6 (endogenous) were matched for gender and age (+/- 5 years) to 155 major depressive inpatients with NEDDI scores < 6 (nonendogenous). When sleep polygraphic variables, neuroendocrine parameters (dexamethasone suppression and thyrotropin-releasing hormone tests), and various clinical variables (unipolar/bipolar status, psychotic/nonpsychotic subtype, and severity of the depressive episode) were examined, statistically significant differences between endogenous and nonendogenous patients emerged for three variables: the thyroid-stimulating hormone response to the thyrotropin-releasing hormone test, the dexamethasone suppression test response at 16:00 h, and the percentage of time awake during the night. However, when the effects of age and severity of depression were controlled, those differences disappeared.
Hubain
P
P
Department of Psychiatry, Erasme Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Van Veeren
C
C
Staner
L
L
Mendlewicz
J
J
Linkowski
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010555:Personality Inventory; D017286:Polysomnography; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone