This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

A Computed Tomographic Study

Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD; K. Ranga R. Krishnan, MD; Deborah Reed, RN, MSN; Richard Leder, MD; Craig Beam, PhD; N. Reed Dunnick, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1992;49(5):384-387.

Abstract
• To determine whether the well-documented hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in depressed patients includes adrenal gland hypertrophy, adrenal gland size was evaluated by computed tomography. Assessments consisted of (1) global ratings by two radiologists ignorant of the diagnostic identity of the subjects and (2) calculation of adrenal volume. Of the 38 patients with major depression, 12 were rated as exhibiting adrenal hypertrophy. Adrenal volumes in the depressed patients were significantly increased when compared with those of normal controls. Adrenal gland size was not correlated with dexamethasone suppression test results, patient age, duration of the depressive episode, or depression severity. These results are concordant with the hypothesis that chronic corticotropin hypersecretion in depression results in adrenocortical hypertrophy. Adrenal gland enlargement may be a measure of cumulative lifetime depression.

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Psychiatry (Drs Nemeroff and Krishnan and Ms Reed), Pharmacology (Dr Nemeroff), and Radiology (Drs Leder, Beam, and Dunnick), Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication June 17, 1991.

Reprint requests to Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 1701 Uppergate Dr, Atlanta, Ga 30322 (Dr Nemeroff).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

A 6-Week Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of CP-316,311 (a Selective CRH1 Antagonist) in the Treatment of Major Depression
Binneman et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2008;165:617-620.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Chronic stress induces adrenal hyperplasia and hypertrophy in a subregion-specific manner
Ulrich-Lai et al.
Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 2006;291:E965-E973.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

What Is the Functional Significance of Chronic Stress-Induced CA3 Dendritic Retraction Within the Hippocampus?
Conrad
Behav Cogn Neurosci Rev 2006;5:41-60.
ABSTRACT  

Pituitary in psychosis * Author's reply
Kumar and Pariante
Br. J. Psychiatry 2004;185:437-438.
FULL TEXT  

The Effects of Child Maltreatment on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis
van voorhees and Scarpa
Trauma Violence Abuse 2004;5:333-352.
ABSTRACT  

Depressive Symptoms and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study
Golden et al.
Diabetes Care 2004;27:429-435.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Depressive Symptoms Are Related to Higher Ambulatory Blood Pressure in People With a Family History of Hypertension
Grewen et al.
Psychosom. Med. 2004;66:9-16.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Differential Menstrual Cycle Regulation of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome and Controls
Roca et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2003;88:3057-3063.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms and Stress Levels in Healthy Young Men: Associations With the Cortisol Response to Awakening
Pruessner et al.
Psychosom. Med. 2003;65:92-99.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Mechanisms and Management of Toxicities Associated With High-Dose Interferon Alfa-2b Therapy
Kirkwood et al.
JCO 2002;20:3703-3718.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Hippocampal Apoptosis in Major Depression Is a Minor Event and Absent from Subareas at Risk for Glucocorticoid Overexposure
Lucassen et al.
Am. J. Pathol. 2001;158:453-468.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Abnormalities of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Nondepressed Women with Abdominal Obesity and Relations with Insulin Resistance: Evidence for a Central and a Peripheral Alteration
Vicennati and Pasquali
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 2000;85:4093-4098.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Associated With Hepatitis C and Interferon Alpha: A Review
Dieperink et al.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2000;157:867-876.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Desmopressin Normalizes the Blunted Adrenocorticotropin Response to Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone in Melancholic Depression: Evidence of Enhanced Vasopressinergic Responsivity
Dinan et al.
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 1999;84:2238-2240.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity in Panic Disorder: 24-Hour Secretion of Corticotropin and Cortisol
Abelson and Curtis
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1996;53:323-331.
ABSTRACT  

Adrenal Gland Volume in Major Depression: Increase During the Depressive Episode and Decrease With Successful Treatment
Rubin et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1995;52:213-218.
ABSTRACT  

Depression in Patients With Cancer: Diagnosis, Biology, and Treatment
McDaniel et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1995;52:89-99.
ABSTRACT  

Adrenal Size Is Increased in Multiple Sclerosis
Reder et al.
Arch Neurol 1994;51:151-154.
ABSTRACT  

Depressive Symptoms as Predictors of Medical Outcomes in HIV Infection
Lyketsos et al.
JAMA 1993;270:2563-2567.
ABSTRACT  

The Adrenal Gland and Depression
McCrank et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1993;50:832-832.
ABSTRACT  

Adrenal Gland Enlargement in Major Depression
Rubin and Phillips
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1993;50:833-834.
ABSTRACT  

The Adrenal Gland and Depression-Reply
Nemeroff et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1993;50:832-833.
ABSTRACT