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.
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