POST DEXAMETHASONE PLASMA cortisol LEVELS AS INDICATOR OF TRICYCLIC RESPONSE IN MAJOR DEPRESSION

Present study suggest that changes in response to the post dexamethasone plasma cortisol levels in the patients of major depression receiveing anti depressants (Imipramine and Amitryptyline) might represent a laboratory marker of clinical progress. We estimated post dexamethasone plasma cortisol levels weekly in thirty hospitalized patients during pro-treatment, post-treatment and drug free post-treatment wash out period. In most of the cases normalization of the post dexamethasone cortisol levels coincided with clinical improvement and failure to normalize was often associated with poorer clinical recovery. No significant difference was observed in the treatment response between imipramine and amitryptyline based on post dexamethasone plasma cortisol levels.