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Related Experiment Videos

Afternoon plasma cortisol in relation to depression. A replication study.

P Christensen1, A Lolk, O L Pedersen

  • 1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Odense University, Denmark.

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
|December 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary

Depressed patients show elevated cortisol levels, particularly related to stress. While oxazepam and dexamethasone suppressed cortisol, its diagnostic value in depression is limited by stress factors.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Altered cortisol secretion is observed in patients with depression.
  • The relationship between cortisol levels, stress, and depression requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate afternoon plasma cortisol levels in depressed inpatients.
  • To assess the impact of oxazepam and dexamethasone on cortisol secretion.
  • To determine correlations between cortisol levels and depression severity, stress, age, and depression type.

Main Methods:

  • Measured afternoon plasma cortisol in 37 depressed inpatients under spontaneous, oxazepam-suppressed, and dexamethasone-suppressed conditions.
  • Administered 60 mg oxazepam and 2 mg dexamethasone orally.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Correlated cortisol levels with Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression stress/distress items, age, and depression type.

    • Main Results:

    • Both oxazepam and dexamethasone significantly suppressed cortisol secretion.
    • Spontaneous and suppressed cortisol levels correlated significantly with stress/distress items on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.
    • No significant correlations were found with age or depression type in this cohort.

    Conclusions:

    • Stress/distress is a significant factor in cortisol hypersecretion during depression.
    • The correlation with stress/distress items may explain the limited diagnostic utility of spontaneous and suppressed cortisol levels in depression.