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Blunting of noradrenergic-stimulated growth hormone release in mania
T G Dinan1, L N Yatham, V O'Keane
1Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Medical School, St. James' Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|July 1, 1991
Abstract:
Seven drug-free patients with bipolar affective disorder, currently in a manic phase, underwent desipramine-induced growth hormone (GH) stimulation, as did seven healthy age- and sex-matched subjects. There was significant blunting of GH release in the manic patients, suggesting a down-regulation of alpha 2-noradrenergic responses. Blunting of GH release was not related to severity of symptoms, duration of illness, or age. Similar blunting has previously been described in depressed patients.