Plasma cortisol level in women with periodic depression
Szłabowicz, J.W.; Landowski, J.; Nowicki, Z.
Psychiatria Polska 13(3): 209-215
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-2674 PMID: 472061 Document Number: 146624
Investigations were performed in a group of 10 women patients in the 30 to 55-yr age range (median 43 yr) hospitalized because of a successive phase in the course of unipolar cyclophrenia (periodic depression). Patients qualified for these investigations displayed marked symptoms of the depressive syndrome whose pattern showed preponderance of slowing down with moderately intense restlessness and anxiety, without agitation. Clinical evaluation and evaluation by the Hamilton, Beck and Zung scales were conducted simultaneously with radioimmunoassay of the cortisol level in the plasma, collected at 0800 h and at 1400 and 2000 h. Determinations of cortisol concentrations in the plasma were made during culmination of depression prior to treatment, then during amitryptiline or imipramine treatment with daily doses of 300 mg and after remission of symptoms due to treatment. The median values of cortisol concentration during depression did not significantly differ from median values (for the method used) in healthy subjects. Comparison of the cortisol levels found at the different times of day prior to and after thymoleptic treatment showed a statistically significant decrease of cortisol level during improvement for measurements performed at 0800 and 2000 h. Measurements made in the afternoon showed greater variance of results. The effects obtained were discussed on the basis of the monoaminergic hypothesis of affective illnesses and the possible influence of thymoleptics on the noradrenergic secretion regulation on the axis of hypothalamus-hypophysis-suprarenal today.