A REVIEW OF GHRH STIMULATION TEST IN PSYCHIATRY

We critically reviewed controlled investigations of the growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulation test in depression, anorexia ner vosa, bulimia, panic disorder, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease. Comparisons of GH responsiveness between patients and controls within each diagnostic category were equivocal and in some cases contradicto ry Factors that may contribute substantially to the inconsistent findi ngs within diagnostic categories include (1) the variability of GHRH-s imulated GH among control groups; (2) the lack of uniformity in test p rocedures and outcome measures; and (3) the age and gender of subjects . In addition, the individual reproducibility of the GHRH stimulation best has not been adequately investigated and until the test's stabili ty within subjects can be determined, the validity of interpretations resulting from the GHRH simulation rest are in question.