Psychotropic effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation in depressive patients

Synthetic human corticotropin-releasing hormone (hCRH) was administered as an intravenous bolus (100 micrograms) to 13 patients suffering from endogenous depression and to 12 healthy volunteers. Compared with controls, depressed patients showed a significant amelioration of mood and well-being 2 h after hCRH administration in the rating scales applied ('Befindlichkeits-Skala', 'Eigenschaftswörterliste', 'Kurzskala Stimmung-Aktivierung', Self-Rating Depression Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression). Based on our preliminary data, a psychotropic effect and at least a mediating function of hCRH regarding pathophysiology and etiopathogenesis of endogenous depressions must be assumed.