Hypo thalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Many centers have reported specific abnormalities on measures of hypo-thalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in patients with psychotic depression. Patients with psychotic major depression (PMD) are among those with the highest rates of nonsuppression on the dexamethasone suppression test, and many of them have markedly elevated posttest levels (Carroll et al. 1976c, 1980 Coryell et al. 1982). Significant differences have been observed in 24-hour measures of urinary free cortisol between patients with psychotic and those with nonpsychotic major depression (NPMD) (R. F. Anton 1987). 

Keywords Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone Adre-nocorticohophic hormone Corticohopin releasing hormone Cytokines Depression Hypo thalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis Proenkephalin Proopiomelanocortin Schizophrenia Shess response... 

Beirne J, Jubiz W. Effect of indomethacin on the hypo-thalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in man. J Chn Endocrinol Metab 1978 47(4) 713-16. 

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