To further investigate the hypothesis that hyperactivity of the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with depression may be
mediated by hypersecretion of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), the
authors measured CRF-like immunoreactivity in CSF samples from 138
neurological control, 54 depressed, and 27 nondepressed (23 schizophrenic
and four manic) subjects. The CSF CRF concentration was markedly higher
(almost twofold) in depressed patients than in control subjects and
nondepressed psychiatric patients. The concentration of CSF CRF was
slightly but significantly higher in schizophrenic patients than in control
subjects. These findings provide further support for the hypothesis that
CRF hypersecretion occurs in major depression.Abstract Teaser