Simultaneous use of thyrotropin-releasing hormone test and combined dexamethasone/corticotropine-releasing hormone test for severity evaluation and outcome prediction in patients with major depressive disorder.

We performed a prospective study designed to examine whether or not evaluation of the severity and prediction of treatment outcome in major depressive disorder would be enabled by simultaneous use of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) test and the combined dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing hormone (DEX/CRH) test. We studied consecutive patients hospitalized for major depressive disorder. The patients received the TRH test and the DEX/CRH test on the 4th through the 7th hospital days and at the time of improvement.

Frontal brain hypoactivity as a biological substrate of anxiety in patients with panic disorders.

Frontal brain asymmetry is associated with differences in the basic dimensions of emotion. It seems to reflect the activation of specialized systems for avoidance-withdrawal behavior. Since patients with panic disorder are characterized by having both negative emotions and avoidance-withdrawal behavior, we expected them to show greater asymmetry in the frontal hemisphere change activation.