Depressive psychomotor disturbance, cortisol, and dexamethasone.
We examine the dexamethasone suppression test as a biological correlate of melancholia as defined by the CORE system, a scale for rating objective signs of psychomotor disturbance. Postdexamethasone cortisol concentrations and rates of nonsuppression were higher in CORE, Newcastle, and DSM-III-R defined melancholic groups. These differences, however, were no longer significant after partialling out the combined effects of age, dexamethasone, and basal cortisol concentrations. There was a significant correlation between the CORE (but not the Newcastle) scale and 8:00 AM postdexamethasone cortisol levels, which persisted after partialling out those same three covariates. Dexamethasone concentrations themselves were lower in CORE- and Newcastle-defined melancholics, though these were no longer significant after covarying for cortisol concentrations. Dexamethasone levels were also significantly inversely correlated with CORE and Newcastle scales. A significant correlation between CORE (but not Newcastle) scores and dexamethasone levels at 4:00 PM persisted after partialling out the effects of age and cortisol. These findings indicate an intriguing relationship between the CORE system as a dimensional construct for rating psychomotor disturbance, and both postdexamethasone cortisol and dexamethasone concentrations.
Mitchell
P
P
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Hadzi-Pavlovic
D
D
Parker
G
G
Hickie
I
I
Wilhelm
K
K
Brodaty
H
H
Boyce
P
P
D000367:Age Factors; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone