Growth hormone and other responses to clonidine in patients with endogenous depression.

The growth hormone response to clonidine was significantly less in 10 drug-free patients with endogenous depression than in 10 normal subjects who were individually matched with the patients for age and sex. The hypotensive and sedative effects of clonidine in the two groups were similar. The findings may indicate a defect at central alpha adrenoceptors at least in neuro-endocrine systems.