Disrupted 24-hour patterns of cortisol secretion in psychotic depression
Abstract
Plasma cortisol was analyzed every 20 minutes for 24 hours in six psychotically depressed patients and eight normal persons. The depressives, while ill, secreted substantially more cortisol, had more secretory episodes, and more minutes of active secretion; throughout day and night, cortisol concentration was markedly elevated both at the beginning and end of secretory episodes, and cortisol was actively secreted during late evening and early morning hours when normally secretion is minimal. After treatment, the patients' secretory patterns normalized. Biological half life of cortisol remained normal throughout. The data suggest an abnormal disinhibition during depressive illness of the neuroendocrine centers regulating adrenocorticotrophic hormone release. Such neuroendocrine activation has been produced in animals following depletion of brain biogenic amines; a similar mechanism may be involved in the hypersecretion of cortisol in certain depressed patients.
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Stress hormones, such as cortisol, are involved in psychopathology, reflecting emotional arousal and psychic disorganization rather than the specific disorder per se.
“stress hormones, such as cortisol, are involved in psychopathology, reflecting emotional arousal and psychic disorganization rather than the specific disorder per se (Sachar et al., 1973).”
From Central effects of stress hormones in health and disease: understanding the protective and damaging effects of stress and stress mediators (2008) · cites this paper as Sachar et al., 1973
Stress hormones such as cortisol are involved in psychopathology, reflecting emotional arousal and psychic disorganization rather than the specific disorder per se.
“It has been known for some time that stress hormones, such as Cortisol, are involved in psychopathology, reflecting emotional arousal and psychic disorganization rather than the specific disorder per se.109”
From Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators: central role of the brain (2006) · cites this paper as [109]
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- Authors
- Sachar, E. J.
- Corresponding author
- Sachar, Edward J.
- Venue
- Archives of General Psychiatry
- Publisher
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Published
- 1973-01-01
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 19
- ISSN
- 0003-990X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2003267121
- Cited by
- 775
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 7.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Keywords
- cortisol secretion, circadian rhythm, psychotic depression, neuroendocrine regulation, ACTH, biological half-life, biogenic amines, antidepressant treatment, hypercortisolism
- MeSH terms
- Adrenal Glands, Adult, Aged, Circadian Rhythm, Depression, Electroconvulsive Therapy, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Imipramine, Male, Metabolic Clearance Rate, Middle Aged, Psychotic Disorders, Remission, Spontaneous, Secretory Rate, Sleep, Wakefulness
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