[Biologic diagnosis of depression by the TRH and dexamethasone tests]

Nowadays the diagnosis of depression can be made through two neuroendocrine tests, which tend to become common: the TRH test and the Dexamethasone Suppression Test which have a wide diagnostic accuracy. Any abnormal finding could implicate a dysfunction of neurotransmitter systems. They are of diagnostic assistance in endogenous depressions supposed to be responsive to antidepressants. They might also be a practical monitor of treatment response since the test results reverting to normal seems to indicate recovery whereas persisting abnormal results are a possible predictor of relapse.