cortodoxone and Bipolar-Disorder

As it has been suggested that calculating the ratio of cortisol to its biosynthetic precursor, 11-deoxycortisol, may enhance the sensitivity of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) for depression, cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol were measured in 90 subjects undergoing this test. Among these subjects, post-dexamethasone cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol levels were significantly correlated (r = 0.65, P less than 0.001) and evaluating the ratio of cortisol to 11-deoxycortisol decreased rather than enhanced sensitivity of the DST.

Topics: 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids; Bipolar Disorder; Cortodoxone; Depressive Disorder; Dexamethasone; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Middle Aged; Schizophrenia

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Bipolar Disorder; Corticosterone; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Cortodoxone; Depressive Disorder; Dexamethasone; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Metyrapone; Mineralocorticoids; Neurotransmitter Agents; Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase; Steroid Hydroxylases

The metyrapone test was applied to groups of patients suffering from major depressive illness with melancholia, mania or schizophrenia, before and after treatment. There were interesting individual correlations between post-metyrapone cortexolone values, cortexolone/cortisol ratios and clinical improvement in depressives. Two patients who had exhibited abnormal metyrapone responses displayed a normalization of post-metyrapone cortexolone values upon clinical improvement, whereas the opposite trend was observed in a patient who did not improve and in another who became manic. These preliminary results may indicate that abnormal metyrapone responses in depression are state dependent.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antidepressive Agents; Antipsychotic Agents; Bipolar Disorder; Cortodoxone; Depressive Disorder; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Imipramine; Lithium; Male; Metyrapone; Middle Aged; Psychotic Disorders; Psychotropic Drugs; Schizophrenia

The metyrapone test was applied to patients suffering from major depressive illness with melancholia, from mania, and from schizophrenia. Hypoactivity of the HPA axis as assessed by the test appears to occur infrequently in affective disorders and schizophrenia. High normal or exaggerated responses to metyrapone, as observed in Cushing's disease, appear to be correlated to DST non-suppression in melancholia.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Bipolar Disorder; Cortodoxone; Depressive Disorder; Dexamethasone; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Male; Metyrapone; Middle Aged; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Schizophrenia

The metyrapone (Metopiron) test (MT), a useful and reliable procedure for assessing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function, was applied to manic patients and healthy subjects. Three out of 11 patients had high normal responses to metyrapone, as observed in patients with Cushing's disease. One patient exhibited a subnormal response to metyrapone, as occurs in patients with adrenal insufficiency. No such abnormalities were detected in 11 matched healthy control subjects. These preliminary results suggest that the HPA axis activity patterns in mania may be more complex than previously reported.

Topics: 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids; Adult; Bipolar Disorder; Cortodoxone; Dexamethasone; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Metyrapone; Middle Aged; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Psychotic Disorders

Topics: 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids; Adult; Bipolar Disorder; Corticosterone; Cortisone; Cortodoxone; Depressive Disorder; Desoxycorticosterone; Dexamethasone; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Middle Aged