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Growth hormone secretion in prepubertal children with major depression. II. Sleep-related plasma concentrations
Insights
Prepubertal children with major depression show increased sleep growth hormone (GH) secretion. This elevated GH may indicate current illness, past episodes, or a predisposition to depression.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychiatry
- Neuroendocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) in prepubertal children is a significant concern.
- Growth hormone (GH) secretion patterns during sleep are complex and can be altered in various conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma growth hormone (GH) concentrations during sleep in prepubertal children with and without major depressive disorder.
- To determine if GH secretion patterns can serve as a biomarker for prepubertal depression.
Main Methods:
- Measured plasma GH every 20 minutes during sleep in 71 prepubertal children.
- Included groups with endogenous MDD, nonendogenous MDD, neurotic disorders, and normal controls.
- Analyzed GH levels including maximal peak and area under the curve (AUC) across different sleep intervals.
Main Results:
- Both endogenous and nonendogenous major depressive disorder groups exhibited significantly higher GH secretion during sleep compared to controls.
- An AUC cutoff of 2,000 ng x min/mL correctly identified 50% of children with major depression.
- This cutoff demonstrated high specificity (78% vs. neurotics, 100% vs. normal children).
Conclusions:
- Elevated sleep GH secretion may be a valuable marker for prepubertal major depression.
- This finding holds true regardless of whether the depression is endogenous or nonendogenous.
- Increased GH secretion could represent current illness, a history of depressive episodes, or a trait vulnerability.
Abstract:
Plasma growth hormone (GH) concentrations were determined every 20 minutes during sleep in 71 prepubertal children: 22 had endogenous major depressive disorder, 20 had nonendogenous major depressive disorder, 21 had nondepressed neurotic disorders, and eight were normal. Both depressive groups secreted significantly more GH during sleep than did controls. Measures included maximal GH plasma peak and area under the curve (AUC) during the total sleep period, during the first three hours after sleep onset, and during the first five hours after sleep onset. An AUC cutoff of 2,000 ng X min/mL identified positively half the prepubertal children with major depression; with a specificity of 78% (v neurotics) and 100% (v normal children). Increased GH secretion during sleep may be a marker of illness, a past episode, or trait for prepubertal major depression regardless of endogenicity.