Mazet P, Simon D, Luton J P, Bricaire H
Nouv Presse Med. 1981;10(31):2565-70.
To determine whether patients with hypothalamo-pituitary Cushing's disease (HPC-D) can be distinguished on psychological grounds from these presenting with adrenal Cushing's syndrome (AC-S) or with ectopic ACTH syndrome, an in-depth psychological study including full personal, family and socio-professional history and a psychological interview was carried out in 50 patients with endogenous hypercortisolism. The results showed that psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, are virtually constant in patients with either HPC-D or AC-S. They are, however, more pronounced in patients with HPC-D, and the latter condition is more likely to develop in subjects with either "psychosomatic" or pre-morbid depressive neurotic personality.