Disordered adrenocorticotropin secretion in women with major depression.
BACKGROUND
Major depression is accompanied by activation of the hypothalamic pituitary axis and evidence of abnormalities in circadian and ultradian hormone rhythms. In addition, diminished negative feedback of cortisol on ACTH has been found.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to compare ACTH and cortisol hormonal patterns in women with major depression with normal control women.


METHODS
This was a case control study.


METHODS
The study was conducted at a general clinical research center.


METHODS
Healthy, drug-free, premenopausal women with major depression and age and menstrual cycle day-matched healthy control women were included in the study.


METHODS
ACTH and cortisol data were measured every 10 min for 24 h analyzed with approximate entropy and cross-approximate entropy to determine orderliness of hormone secretion and relationship between ACTH and cortisol in terms of feedforward and feedback synchrony.


RESULTS
Depressed women manifested increased approximate entropy, indicating more disorderly secretion, of ACTH and elevated forward cross-approximate entropy of ACTH on cortisol, denoting unopposed ACTH drive.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support other evidence of hormonal rhythm abnormalities in depression and are compatible with accentuated feedforward drive by ACTH.
Department of Psychiatry and Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0720, USA. eayoung@umich.edu
Elizabeth A
EA
Young
Johannes D
JD
Veldhuis
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D019277:Entropy; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008598:Menstruation / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone