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Persistent eleation of urinary free cortisol and loss of circannual periodicity in recovered depressive patients

1985; Elsevier BV; Volume: 8; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0165-0327(85)90036-9

1573-2517

Roger G. Kathol,

Treatment of Major Depression

By comparing a group of 8 normal subjects with 7 recovered depressive patients who had been dexamethasome suppression test (DST) monsuppressors while depressed, the following defferences were identified: (1) mean urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels were significantly higher for recovered depressive Patients than for controls in the summer and fall as well as for the year; (2) patients who had recovered from depression lost their circannual pattern of cortisol excretion; and (3) there was a positive correlation between depressive symptoms as reflected on the Back Depression Inventory and UFS levels in recovered patients but not controls. The elevated UFC levels in depressed patients with DST nonsuppression represent the first trait marker which persists over time. The implications of the close association between UFC Levels and depressive symtoms is discussed.