Hormonal changes in major depressive disorder.

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was performed in 38 patients satisfying the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for cortisol, human growth hormone (hGH), prolactin, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined at 4:00 p.m. before the administration of dexamethasone, whereas cortisol, hGH and TSH were determined at 4:00 p.m. the day after. Among hormonal variables, only cortisol index (the ratio of the pre-DST cortisol to the post-DST cortisol) was barely useful for discriminating depression. The cortisol index was also correlated with RDC incapacitating subcategory and with symptoms of affect such as depressed mood and psychic anxiety.