NEUROENDOCRINE DYSFUNCTION AND RESPONSE TO TRICYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (9) , 385-386
Abstract
Patients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III unipolar major depression (N=26) were treated with tricyclic antidepressants after 2 wk of inpatient drug-free observation and neuroendocrine testing. Medication was prescribed with individualized dosages and was monitored with blood levels. Treatment response (.gtoreq. 50% decrease in Hamilton depression score after 4 wk) was seen in 6 of 13 patients given desipramine and 7 of 13 given nortriptyline. Of the 13 nonresponders, 9 accepted treatment with another drug and/or electro-convulsive therapy; 5 responded. Thus, 18 of 26 patients responded to treatment. Abnormal pretreatment dexamethasone suppression test was correlated with increased responsiveness to treatment, although all patients had a high probability of response.