The authors measured urinary free cortisol and urinary 3-methoxy-4-
hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels in 24 severely depressed patients and 22
normal control subjects. Urinary free cortisol levels were significantly
higher in the depressed patients than in the control subjects, but mean
urinary MHPG levels were not significantly different in these two groups. A
very high positive correlation between urinary MHPG levels and urinary free
cortisol levels was found in the depressed patients but not in the control
subjects.Abstract Teaser