Am J Psychiatry 1993; 150:1728-1730
Copyright © 1993 by American Psychiatric Association
Baclofen-induced growth hormone release in major depression: relationship to dexamethasone suppression test result
K O'Flynn and TG Dinan
Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Medical School, Dublin.
Fifteen patients with DSM-III-R major depression and 15 matched comparison
subjects underwent baclofen-induced growth hormone (GH) release and the
dexamethasone suppression test (DST). The GH responses of the patients were
significantly blunted, especially those of the patients who were DST
nonsuppressors. These findings may indicate lower than normal responsivity
of type B gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA-B) receptors in depression and a
relationship between GABA-B receptor abnormality and dysfunction of the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
