[The endocrine abnormalities of depressive patients]

In the present study, the levels of the baseline cortisol, thyrotropin (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and growth hormone (GH) were determined in 64 depressive patients, 17 patients with other depressive disorders and 19 normal controls. Meanwhile, dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were conducted. The baseline cortisol level at 23:00 in the depressive group (8.12 +/- 5.55 micrograms/dl) was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (4.80 +/- 2.10 micrograms/dl), and DST nonsuppression ratio in the depressive group (14.5%) was significantly higher than those in the other two groups (0%). There were not significantly differences in the levels of the baseline TSH, T3 and T4 between the three groups. There were not significantly differences in the baseline GH level between the three groups, but GH level in the depressive group at 90 min. after infusing insulin was significantly lower than that in the normal control group. The results showed the HPA axis hyperactivity, normal thyroid function and blunted GH response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia at 90 min. in ITT in the depressive patients.