Related Experiment Videos
Adrenal gland enlargement in major depression. A computed tomographic study
C B Nemeroff1, K R Krishnan, D Reed
1Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.
Archives of General Psychiatry
|May 1, 1992
Summary
Depressed patients show enlarged adrenal glands, indicating potential hypertrophy. This finding suggests chronic stress hormones may cause adrenal gland growth in major depression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is hyperactive in depression.
- Previous studies suggest chronic stress impacts adrenal glands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate adrenal gland size in patients with major depression.
- To determine if adrenal gland hypertrophy is present in depression.
Main Methods:
- Computed tomography (CT) scans were used to assess adrenal gland size.
- Adrenal gland volume was calculated and globally rated by radiologists.
- Depressed patients were compared to normal controls.
Main Results:
- Adrenal gland volumes were significantly increased in depressed patients compared to controls.
- 12 out of 38 depressed patients showed signs of adrenal hypertrophy.
- Adrenal size did not correlate with dexamethasone suppression test results, age, episode duration, or depression severity.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the hypothesis of adrenocortical hypertrophy due to chronic corticotropin hypersecretion in depression.
- Adrenal gland enlargement may serve as a biomarker for cumulative lifetime depression.