ABSTRACT
Endogenicity has been considered to have a major predictive value as to the therapeutic response to antidepressants. Two recently introduced measures of endogenicity (the Michigan Discriminant Index and the Hamilton Endogenomorphy Subscale) were investigated regarding their potential predictive value. It was concluded that, in a group of selected depressive patients, neither the Michigan Discriminant Index, nor the Hamilton Endogenomorphy Subscale, had a predictive value concerning short-term response to antidepressants.
Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Depressive Disorder/drug therapy , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Adult , Aged , Clomipramine/therapeutic use , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Female , Hostility , Humans , Male , Maprotiline/therapeutic use , Middle Aged , Personality Tests , PrognosisABSTRACT
PIP: The effect of oral contraceptive use and hospitalization stress on the results of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) were assessed. This test, in which 1 mg dexamethasone is given at 11:00 p.m., and blood cortisol is analyzed the following day, is used as an indicator or major or endogenous depression, as opposed to situational depression, but specificity of the test remains in dispute. The test subjects were 15 normal volunteers, mostly staff, and 27 surgical patients, who were planning orthopedic surgery the following day. Of the 20 women, 7 took oral contraceptives, (Sequilar, Microgynon 50, Trigynon, Microgynon 30 and Diane). Cortisol was radioimmunoassayed at 4:00 p.m. in volunteers and at 8:00, 4:00 and 11:00 p.m. in hospital patients. Only 1 subject had a positive test (non-suppressor), a non oral contraceptive user, with a cut-off point of 50 mcg/L. The hospital patients' cortisol levels were slightly higher (n.s.). Pill users' cortisol levels were unchanged.^ieng
Subject(s)
Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal/administration & dosage , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Dexamethasone , Hospitalization , Hydrocortisone/blood , Stress, Psychological/complications , Adult , Estrogens/administration & dosage , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Differences between primary and secondary depression have been studied from different viewpoints. This study aimed at determining a possible difference in terms of personality factors and psychodynamic variables. Two psychological tests (the MMPI and the Gottschalk-Gleser) were administered to 32 depressed inpatients, diagnosed according to Feighner criteria. A statistically significant difference was found only for the Psychasthenia scale on the MMPI. However a discriminant analysis using the MMPI results yielded approximately 80% correct classification. The Gottschalk-Gleser test did not provide any significant difference.
Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder/psychology , Personality , Humans , MMPI , Psychological Tests , Psychometrics , Verbal BehaviorABSTRACT
TSH response to I.V. TRH and suppression of cortisol secretion by dexamethasone were studied in 51 depressive inpatients. There was no significant relationship between the results on both tests, considering blunted TSH responses to TRH and nonsuppression on the DST. Both tests were not complementary in identifying various subgroups of depression as far as the predictive value of a positive result on either or both tests is concerned. Methodological and clinical issues regarding these markers are briefly discussed.
