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Relationship to Plasma Cortisol Levels Before and After Dexamethasone Administration

Alec Roy, MB; Don Everett, MA; David Pickar, MD; Steven M. Paul, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1987;44(4):320-327.

Abstract
• We measured platelet tritiated imipramine binding and serotonin uptake in 51 depressed patients and 43 normal controls. Although there were no significant differences in platelet ³H-imipramine binding or serotonin uptake when the total group of depressed patients was compared with controls, depressed women (n = 32) had a significantly lower maximal density of ³H-imipramine binding sites (β_max) than control women (n = 25). Moreover, among the total group of depressed patients, there were significant negative correlations between the β_max values and plasma cortisol levels at 4 PM (n = 41) and 11 PM (n = 41) following dexamethasone administration. These negative correlations between β_max and cortisol levels were strongest among melancholic patients both at 4 PM before dexamethasone administration (n =14) and at 11 PM after dexamethasone administration (n =15). These data suggest that the reported decrease in β_max found among depressed patients may be related to and is perhaps secondary to the hypercortisolemia of depression.

Author Affiliations
From the Section on Clinical Studies, Clinical Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md. Dr Roy is currently with the Laboratory of Clinical Studies, Division of Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Md. Mr Everett is currently with the Epidemiology, Demography, Biometry Program, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Md.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Nov 10, 1986.

Reprint requests to Bldg 10, Room 3B-19, Department of Health Services, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Dr Roy).

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