@article{ref1,
title="Lack of effect of HPA axis hyperactivity on hormonal responses to d-fenfluramine in major depressed patients: implications for pathogenesis of suicidal behaviour",
journal="Psychoneuroendocrinology",
year="2001",
author="Duval, F. and Mokrani, M. C. and Correa, H. and Bailey, P. and Valdebenito, M. and Monreal, J. and Crocq, M. A. and Macher, J. P.",
volume="26",
number="5",
pages="521-537",
abstract="There is evidence for inhibitory effects of adrenocorticosteroids on serotonergic (5-HT) activity. However, in depression the relationship between altered cortisol levels and brain 5-HT function remains to be clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity is associated with 5-HT dysfunction in depressed patients, especially in those with suicidal behaviour. Cortisol levels following the dexamethasone suppression test (DST, 1 mg PO) and prolactin, corticotropin and cortisol responses to the d-fenfluramine test (d-FEN, 45 mg PO) - a specific 5-HT releaser/uptake inhibitor - were measured in 71 drug-free DSM-IV major depressed inpatients (40 with a history of suicide attempt, 31 without) and 34 hospitalized healthy control subjects. Depressed patients showed higher post-DST cortisol levels but similar responses to d-FEN compared with control subjects. Hormonal responses to d-FEN were not correlated with cortisol levels (basal or post-DST). Among the depressed patients, DST suppressors and DST nonsuppressors exhibited no significant difference in endocrine responses to d-FEN. However, patients with a history of suicide attempt, when compared with patients without such a history, showed lower hormonal responses to d-FEN but comparable basal and post-DST cortisol levels. Taken together these results suggest that, in depression, HPA axis hyperactivity is not responsible for the reduced 5-HT activity found in patients with a history of suicidal behavior.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0306-4530",
doi="10.1016/s0306-4530(01)00011-7",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0306-4530(01)00011-7"
}