COMBINED DEXAMETHASONE CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE TEST IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND IN NORMAL CONTROLS .2./

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system (HPA) function was tested in 24 patients with schizophrenia and compared to 24 age-matched healthy vol unteers using the combined dexamethasone-suppression (DST/CRH) cortico tropin-releasing hormone stimulation test (DST/CRH), After stimulation with CRH, the dexamethasone-pretrented patients released significantl y more cortisol, but a similar amount of adrenocorticotropic hormone ( ACTH) in comparison to controls. No association between DST status and degree of severity of illness and/or current medication was found. Ho wever, in comparison to unmedicated patients, those patients currently receiving antipsychotics, who were also those with a lesser degree of severity of illness, showed a decreased release of CRH-stimulated cor tisol and ACTH. This study demonstrates that schizophrenic patients ha ve a dysregulation of the HPA system as assessed with the DEX/CRH test , Overall, however, the degree of HPA-system dysfunction in schizophre nic patients seems to be of a lesser magnitude than in patients with a ffective disorders.