Goodyer I, Herbert J, Moor S, Altham P
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, England, United Kingdom.
Psychiatry Res. 1991 Jun;37(3):237-44. doi: 10.1016/0165-1781(91)90060-3.
A prospective longitudinal study has been carried out to determine the secretory pattern of cortisol in children (n = 10) with major depressive disorder. Salivary cortisol samples were collected at 4-hourly intervals over 24 hours when the subjects were depressed and again when they were recovered. Group comparison indicated that significant increases in mean cortisol output occurred during illness as compared with recovery. This difference occurred only at three points (midnight, 4 a.m., 8 a.m.) of six measured. Not all cases were showed hypersecretion, but when hypersecretion was present, it occurred in cases with more severe symptoms. In addition, marked differences existed within individuals in the depressed state vs. the recovered state. Hypersecretion appeared to be associated with a significant alteration in diurnal rhythm in some, but not all, cases. The degree of cortisol responsivity and the shape of the curve over 24 hours during the depressed state deserve further investigation and may have implications for the course and outcome of major depression in this age group.
已开展一项前瞻性纵向研究，以确定患有重度抑郁症的儿童（n = 10）的皮质醇分泌模式。在受试者抑郁时以及康复后，每隔4小时收集一次唾液皮质醇样本，为期24小时。组间比较表明，与康复期相比，患病期间平均皮质醇分泌量显著增加。这种差异仅在六个测量时间点中的三个点（午夜、凌晨4点、上午8点）出现。并非所有病例都表现为分泌过多，但当出现分泌过多时，多见于症状较严重的病例。此外，个体在抑郁状态与康复状态下存在显著差异。在部分（但并非全部）病例中，分泌过多似乎与昼夜节律的显著改变有关。抑郁状态下皮质醇反应性的程度以及24小时内曲线的形状值得进一步研究，可能对该年龄组重度抑郁症的病程和转归具有影响。
