DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more



Desmopressin normalizes the blunted adrenocorticotropin response to corticotropin-releasing hormone in melancholic depression: evidence of enhanced vasopressinergic responsivity.

Author(s): Dinan TG, Lavelle E, Scott LV, Newell-Price J, Medbak S, Grossman AB

Affiliation(s): Department of Psychological Medicine, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, United Kingdom. tdinan@indigo

Publication date & source: 1999-06, J Clin Endocrinol Metab., 84(6):2238-40.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

Major depression is associated with significant disturbance in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning, including blunted release of ACTH in response to CRH infusion. Eight melancholic depressives and eight matched healthy comparison subjects underwent, in random order, the following challenges: placebo, CRH, CRH + DDAVP. Blood for ACTH and cortisol estimation was drawn at -15, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min. A blunted release of ACTH, in response to CRH challenge, was observed in depression (P < 0.01), whereas maximal cortisol responses in both groups were similar, despite elevated baseline levels in depression (P < 0.05). The combined CRH/DDAVP infusion produced similar ACTH and cortisol release in both groups. These results suggest that melancholic depression is associated with enhanced pituitary vasopressinergic responsivity.

Page last updated: 2006-01-31

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017