Plasma corticotropin-releasing factor in depressed patients before and after the dexamethasone suppression test.

Background: Plasma cortisol, beta-endorphin, corticotropin, corticotropin-releasing factor, and salivary cortisol concentrations, resting and after ingestion of 1 mg of dexamethasone, were investigated in depressed patients and controls.

Methods: Fourteen outpatients from the psychiatric department diagnosed with depressive disorder (ICD-10 Classification) participated in the study. The comparison group consisted of 12 healthy volunteers from the hospital staff.