Growth hormone response to growth hormone releasing hormone and to clonidine stimulation in peripubertal patients with major depressive disorder.

The responses of growth hormone (GH) to administration of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH-1 micrograms/kg b.w.) and of clonidine (clon-2.5 micrograms/kg b.w.) and basal levels of somatomedin C (SmC) were measured in nine peripubertal patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and in 9 age- and gender-matched controls. Basal GH and SmC levels, and GH response to GHRH did not differ in patients and controls, whereas responses to clonidine were significantly higher in some and lower in other patients than in controls.