Variability of hormonal responses to a series of neuroendocrine challenges in depressed patients.

Abnormalities of hormonal responses to a number of neuroendocrine challenges have been reported in depressed patients. The authors used a series of four neuroendocrine challenges-thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation, insulin tolerance test (ITT), and overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST)-and examined eight hormonal responses in 24 healthy subjects and 26 patients with primary unipolar affective disorder. Seven control subjects (29.2%) and 25 depressed patients (96.2%) had at least one abnormal response, and 15 depressed patients (57.7%) had two or mor abnormal responses. These findings suggest that depressed patients show variability in hormonal response across a number of neuroendocrine axes. No consistent patterns of abnormality of hormonal response were observed.