PLATELET 5-HT AND PLASMA-CORTISOL CONCENTRATIONS AFTER DEXAMETHASONE SUPPRESSION TEST IN PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT TIME-COURSE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

Platelet 5-HT and plasma cortisol concentrations were determined in 59 schizophrenic patients with different time course of illness before a nd after dexamethasone suppression test (DST). An abnormal DST (nonsup pression) was observed in 51% of patients. In these patients basal cor tisol and platelet 5-HT concentrations were higher than in patients wi th normal DST. After DST, plasma cortisol levels were higher in nonsup pressors with intermittent and intermittent-chronic time course, where as platelet 5-HT concentrations were increased in nonsuppressors with intermittent-chronic time course. The results suggest that schizophren ic patients have dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as s hown by a high rate of DST nonsuppression, and that nonsuppressors sho wed hypercortisolemia and hyperserotonemia independent of the time cou rse of schizophrenia. No significant association between DST and time course of the illness was found.