Computerized brain tomography measures compared with spontaneous and suppressed plasma cortisol levels in major...

We determined brain density and ventricular measurements with computerized tomography (CT) in 33 depressed patients and compared the results with basal plasma cortisol and its suppressibility by dexamethasone. Mean plasma cortisol was positively related to elevated ventricular brain ratio (VBR). No association could be found between dexamethasone suppression test (DST) status and VBR or any other CT parameter. Elevated plasma cortisol levels and increased VBRs were positively correlated with total scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Global Assessment Scale and the Bech-Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale, but they were not significantly correlated with total score on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale.