Neuroendocrinological Aspects of Depression and Symptomatological Picture

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Abstract
Cortisol and prolactin circadian rhythms were determined in a group of depressed hospitalized women who were submitted the next day to the dexamethasone suppression test. The depressed were classified as endogenous and non-endogenous according to symptomatological criteria. Some significant differences were found between the two groups when compared to control subjects in cortisol as well as prolactin bio-rhythms, and the cortisol suppression percentages were significantly lower in the endogenous than in the non-endogenous. This difference is abolished by benzodiazepine treatment.