Clinical and neuroendocrine features of endogenous unipolar and bipolar depression

A group of 19 patients suffering from endogenous unipolar depression was compared with another group of eight patients with bipolar depression. Comparisons were based on psychopathological features together with results of the dexamethasone suppression test and the thyrotropin releasing hormone stimulation test. Unipolar patients showed more frequent loss of weight, reduced appetite, autonomic disturbances, muscular tension, sadness, and reduced sexual interest, whereas bipolar patients showed more frequent hostile feelings. Each neuroendocrine test identified at least 50% of the patients in each group. The combined use of both tests identified about 75% of the patients. The bipolar depressives obtained slightly but not significantly higher rates of positive results in each test and a more frequent association of abnormality in both tests.