Lack of effect of HPA axis hyperactivity on hormonal responses to d-fenfluramine in major depressed patients: implications for pathogenesis of suicidal behaviour.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
; 26(5): 521-37, 2001 Jul.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11337135
ABSTRACT
There is evidence for inhibitory effects of adrenocorticosteroids on serotonergic (5-HT) activity. However, in depression the relationship between altered cortisol levels and brain 5-HT function remains to be clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity is associated with 5-HT dysfunction in depressed patients, especially in those with suicidal behaviour. Cortisol levels following the dexamethasone suppression test (DST, 1 mg PO) and prolactin, corticotropin and cortisol responses to the d-fenfluramine test (d-FEN, 45 mg PO) - a specific 5-HT releaser/uptake inhibitor - were measured in 71 drug-free DSM-IV major depressed inpatients (40 with a history of suicide attempt, 31 without) and 34 hospitalized healthy control subjects. Depressed patients showed higher post-DST cortisol levels but similar responses to d-FEN compared with control subjects. Hormonal responses to d-FEN were not correlated with cortisol levels (basal or post-DST). Among the depressed patients, DST suppressors and DST nonsuppressors exhibited no significant difference in endocrine responses to d-FEN. However, patients with a history of suicide attempt, when compared with patients without such a history, showed lower hormonal responses to d-FEN but comparable basal and post-DST cortisol levels. Taken together these results suggest that, in depression, HPA axis hyperactivity is not responsible for the reduced 5-HT activity found in patients with a history of suicidal behavior.
Recherche sur Google
Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Tentative de suicide
/
Sérotonine
/
Glandes surrénales
/
Dépression
/
Fenfluramine
/
Axe hypothalamohypophysaire
Type d'étude:
Etiology_studies
Limites:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Langue:
En
Journal:
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Année:
2001
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
France