[Disruption of the homeostatic regulation of adrenal function in endogenous depression]

The authors studied the sensitivity to the inhibitory action of 0.5 mg of dexametasone (determined by a drop in 11-oxycorticosteroids in the blood content) in 22 patients with endogenous depressions. In 20 cases among the 22, the dexametasone test appeared to be disturbed. In 14 patients refractory to the action of dexametasone during the depressive period in intermissions the inhibitory effect was restituted. In 7 among 8 cases of reactive depressions the indices did not differ from the control group. The insufficiency in the regulation of glucocorticosteroids is considered as a significant link in the pathogenesis of endogenous depression which may be due to disorders of metabolism of the brain biogenic amines.