Neuroendocrine and neurochemical measurements in depression

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Abstract
Dexamethasone suppression tests (DST), TRH infusions, 72 h urine collections and lumbar punctures were performed on a group of male depressed patients. Approximately 60% of the patients were DST positive and 33% had a blunted TSH response. Two biologic variables, the 0800 h postdexamethasone cortisol and the postprobenecid CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), accounted for over half of the variance in the behavioral measure, the Hamilton score. Plasma cortisol elevation was associated with high 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol (MHPG) excretion; TSH blunting was associated with low urinary MHPG excretion. Urinary and CSF MHPG correlated positively. Comprehensive biologic measures showed certain significant interrelationships and correlations with the severity of depression.

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