THE ELEVATION OF PLASMA BETA-ENDORPHIN LEVELS IN MAJOR DEPRESSION

Day-time plasma beta-endorphin/beta-lipotrophic hormone (beta-ENDO/bet a-LPH), ACTH and cortisol have been determined in 26 patients with maj or depression and 25 controls. beta-ENDO/beta-LPH and cortisol were si gnificantly elevated in patients, while ACTH was not. Cortisol levels were significantly negatively correlated with age in controls as were beta-ENDO/beta-LPH and ACTH. In patients, by contrast, cortisol levels were positively, albeit not significantly, related to age. Peptide le vels were not related to age in the patient group. Instead, beta-ENDO/ beta-LPH was negatively correlated with clinical ratings of symptom se verity in patients and positively associated with an acute, psychosoci al precipitant. The findings cast further light on beta-ENDO/beta-LPH as a measure of hypothalamic-pituitary over activity in depressive ill ness. A negative association with symptom severity suggests that beta- ENDO/beta-LPH responses are, like those of ACTH, down-regulated in the course of depressive illness.