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Post-dexamethasone cortisol correlates with severity of depression before and during carbamazepine treatment in women but not men ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA Osuch, E. A., Cora-Locatelli, G., Frye, M. A., Huggins, T., Kimbrell, T. A., Ketter, T. A., Callahan, A. M., Post, R. M. 2001; 104 (5): 397-401

Abstract

Previous studies show a state-dependent relationship between depression and post-dexamethasone suppression test (DST) cortisol level, as well as differences in DST response with age and gender.In this study, 74 research in-patients with affective disorders were given the DST on placebo and in a subgroup following treatment with carbamazepine. Depression was evaluated twice daily with the Bunney-Hamburg (BH) rating scale. Data were examined for the total subject population, by gender and by menopausal status in women.A robust positive correlation was observed between depression severity and post-DST cortisol in pre- and postmenopausal females, but not in males. This relationship persisted in women when restudied on a stable dose of carbamazepine (n=42).The pathophysiological implications of this selective positive relationship between severity of depression and post-DST cortisol in women, but not men, should be explored further.

View details for Web of Science ID 000171785200013

View details for PubMedID 11722323