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The GH response to clonidine in endogenous as compared with reactive depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

S. A. Checkley*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
I. B. Glass
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
C. Thompson
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
T. Corn
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
P. Robinson
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
1 Address for correspondence: Dr S. A. Checkley. Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park.Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF.

Synopsis

The growth hormone (GH) response to clonidine was measured in 10 patients meeting standardized criteria for ‘endogenous’ depression and in 10 patients individually matched for age and sex but meeting the corresponding criteria for ‘reactive’ depression. In a paired comparison of patients with reactive and endogenous depression (matched for age and sex), the GH response to clonidine was less in the endogenous member of the pair in 8 out of 10 cases. These findings are interpreted as evidence of a defect at alpha2 adrenoceptors in neuroendocrine systems in endogenous as compared with reactive depression.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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