[Endocrinological prediction of the responsiveness of depressive patients to lofepramine (author's transl)].

In a pilot study of 15 depressive patients of the neurotic and endogenous type we could show that some neuroendocrinological parameters are apt to predict the thymoleptic efficacy of lofepramine. These parameters, which were measured with a simple global stimulation test (insulin hypoglycaemia combined with injection of TRH and LHRH), were as follows: high basal blood glucose; high hypoglycaemic blood glucose; high decrease of blood glucose in comparison to the basal level; low basal TSH; low increase of HGH and low increase of cortisol after hypoglycemia. A synopsis of these parameters allowed a correct classification of 14 out of 15 patients according to therapy response and therapy resistance.