Post-dexamethasone cortisol correlates with severity of depression before and during carbamazepine treatment in women but not men.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies show a state-dependent relationship between depression and post-dexamethasone suppression test (DST) cortisol level, as well as differences in DST response with age and gender.


METHODS
In this study, 74 research in-patients with affective disorders were given the DST on placebo and in a subgroup following treatment with carbamazepine. Depression was evaluated twice daily with the Bunney-Hamburg (BH) rating scale. Data were examined for the total subject population, by gender and by menopausal status in women.


RESULTS
A robust positive correlation was observed between depression severity and post-DST cortisol in pre- and postmenopausal females, but not in males. This relationship persisted in women when restudied on a stable dose of carbamazepine (n=42).


CONCLUSIONS
The pathophysiological implications of this selective positive relationship between severity of depression and post-DST cortisol in women, but not men, should be explored further.
Osuch
E A
EA
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Cora-Locatelli
G
G
Frye
M A
MA
Huggins
T
T
Kimbrell
T A
TA
Ketter
T A
TA
Callahan
A M
AM
Post
R M
RM
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors
D002220:Carbamazepine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone