HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS FUNCTION AND PLATELET SEROTONIN CONCENTRATIONS IN DEPRESSED-PATIENTS

Plasma cortisol and platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) con centrations were determined in 39 male psychotic and 39 male non-psych otic depressed inpatients, and in 69 male healthy control subjects. Ps ychotic or non-psychotic depressed patients had higher predexamethason e plasma cortisol levels than found in the control group. After the de xamethasone suppression test (DST), psychotic and non-psychotic depres sed patients were subdivided into suppressors and non-suppressors. Psy chotic and non-psychotic patients had significantly different platelet 5-HT concentrations among themselves and compared with the control gr oup. However, there was no significant correlation between plasma cort isol levels and platelet 5-HT concentrations. Dexamethasone administra tion did not affect platelet 5-HT concentrations within subtypes of de pressed patients. Abnormal cortisol suppression after the DST occurred more frequently in psychotic than in non-psychotic patients. Platelet 5-HT and plasma cortisol concentrations were decreased in patients wi th pronounced suicidal behaviour. Our results suggest that plasma cort isol and platelet 5-HT concentrations might serve as independent biolo gical markers for different subtypes of depression. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.