[The CRF test in psychiatry. Preliminary studies]

The HPA axis exploration in the endogenous depressions indicates an hyperactivity of this system. But the reason of this perturbation is not definite. The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) test has been described from research work carried out by Vale et al. In the endogenous depressions, this test enables us to specify physiopathological factors of the HPA axis dysfunction. Some research suggest an hypothalamic and limbic CRF hypersecretion in the endogenous depressions. But the results are not consistent principally because of the diversity of technical protocols. So the authors try to take stock of the CRF test specificity. They report the results obtained after 100 micrograms o-CRF intravenous administration in 7 voluntary normal men.