title: Post-dexamethasone cortisol correlates with severity of depression before and during carbamazepine treatment in women but not men.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Osuch
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cora-Locatelli
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Frye
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huggins
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kimbrell
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ketter
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Callahan
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Post
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002220:Carbamazepine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone