Clonidine (1·3 μg/kg) was administered to 62 control and 55 depressed patients free of psychoactive drugs for at least 7 days and fasted overnight. Growth hormone (GH), pulse, blood pressure and sedation were measured every 15 min for 1 h before and 2 h after clonidine infusion.

GH response did not differ significantly between control and depressed subjects overall or when divided by sex. The systolic hypotensive and sedative responses were blunted in depressed subjects compared with controls; these effects appeared to be secondary to residual antidepressant drugs since the differences were only significant for those depressed subjects with short drug-free intervals.

No differences between depressed subjects and controls were seen in diastolic hypotensive or bradycardic responses and no differences in GH, cardiovascular or sedative responses were found between endogenous and non-endogenous depressed subjects.

The organometallic chemical vapor deposition (OMCVD) of transition metal carbides (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, and Cr) from tetraneopentyl-metal precursors has been carried out. Metal carbides can be deposited on Si, A120 3, and stainless steel substrates from M[CH 2C(CH3)3]4 at temperatures in the range of 300 to 750 "C and pressures from 10-2 to 10-4 Torr. Thin films have also been grown using a carrier gas (Ar, H2). The effects of variation of the metal center, deposition conditions, and reactor design on the resulting material have been examined by SEM, XPS, XRD, ERD and AES. Hydrocarbon fragments generated in the deposition chamber have been studied by in-situ mass spectrometry. Complimentary studies examining the UHV surface decomposition of Zr[CH2C(CH3)3]4 have allowed for a better understanding of the mechanism leading to film growth.

Stable zirconium carbide thin films have been deposited from a singlesource organometallic precursor, tetraneopentyl zirconium, at substrate temperatures above 500 °C. Materials deposited above this temperature are crystalline by X-ray diffraction. A metal to carbon ratioof 1:2 is observed by Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiling. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates the zirconium is single phase. The observed spectra correspond well to spectra for zirconium carbide standards. Carbon XPS reveals carbidic and graphitic or hydrocarbon species with a third unknown carbon species. Elastic recoil detection finds a large, up to 16%, hydrogen content in the thin film.

3H-imipramine binding in 39 drug-free patients with major depression and 44 healthy controls did not differ significantly between the two groups, in male or female subjects or in subgroups of depressed patients divided by endogenicity or dexamethasone suppression test result. 3H-imipramine binding in depressed patients drug-free for less than three weeks did not differ from those drug-free for longer intervals or from controls. A significant seasonal variation of 3H-imipramine Bmax was found, with lower values in summer and autumn. Treatment of depressed patients with imipramine or lofepramine for six weeks increased KD and Bmax. Methodological modification (in preparation and storage of platelets) does not explain the major differences in results between this study (using frozen platelets), a previous one (using freshly prepared platelets) and others in general, although it might contribute to the range of values reported.