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Are blunted dexamethasone-induced growth hormone responses unique to depression?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Jogin H. Thakore  and
Timothy G. Dinan
Jogin H. Thakore*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London
Timothy G. Dinan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Jogin H. Thakore Department of Psychological MedicineSt Bartholomew's HospitalLondon EC1A 7BE.
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Synopsis

In health, acute administration of glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone (DEX), leads to growth hormone (GH) secretion. Depression is characterized by blunted DEX/GH responses. In order to determine the specificity of this test for depression we administered 4 mg of oral DEX, to patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of depression, schizophrenia, mania and alcohol dependency syndrome. Samples for GH estimation were taken at − 15 min, 0 min, +60 min, +180 min, +240 min and +300 min. GH responses were attenuated to a similar degree in depression and mania. Less marked attenuation was seen in schizophrenia while those with alcohol dependency syndrome had GH responses indistinguishable from normal volunteers. Overall, we conclude that subnormal DEX/GH secretion is not specific to depression.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 5 , September 1996 , pp. 1053 - 1059
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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