Growth hormone release during sleep and with thermal stimulation in depressed patients

The pattern of human growth hormone (HGH) release was studied in depressed patients during sleep under EEG control and employing high temperature exposure. The patients were free of drugs and were compared with corresponding control groups. In the sleep study (6 depressed patients), 2 patients showed no definite increase in HGH plasma concentration, and 3 patients showed an increase in HGH only in the second half of the night, independent of slow wave sleep (SWS). But sleep disturbances were present in all 5 patients. A correlation between SWS and HGH release was found in only 1 patient. One nondepressed control, without SWS, showed a delayed HGH response. Exposure to high temperature in normal subjects induced an acute HGH release. 8 of the 13 patients studied had a deficient HGH RESPONSE. All were depressive, with psycho motor retardation and marked vital and neurovegetative disturbances. These findings support the idea that, at least in a high percentage of depressed patients, there is a disturbance of the hypothalamic pituitary function.