Posted by Sherry on February 20, 2001, at 18:57:29
Hi All,
I have been diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, and I suffer from atypical depression. I also, suffer from ferocious mood swings because of blood sugar fluctuations. Does anyone know why the adrenals are underactive in atypical depression, and overactive in typical depression? I found the article below, and it piqued my curiousity.
Sherry
Prednisone augmentation in treatment-resistant depression with fatigue and hypocortisolaemia: a case series
Bouwer C, Claassen J, Dinan TG, Nemeroff CB
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand. colin.bouwer@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
[Record supplied by publisher]
Abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have long been implicated in major depression with hypercortisolaemia reported in typical depression and hypocortisolaemia in some studies of atypical depression. We report on the use of prednisone in treatment-resistant depressed patients with reduced plasma cortisol concentrations. Six patients with treatment-resistant major depression were found to complain of severe fatigue, consistent with major depression, atypical subtype, and to demonstrate low plasma cortisol levels. Prednisone 7.5 mg daily was added to the antidepressant regime. Five of six patients demonstrated significant improvement in depression on prednisone augmentation of antidepressant therapy. Although hypercortisolaemia has been implicated in some patients with depression, our findings suggest that hypocortisolaemia may also play a role in some subtypes of this disorder. In treatment-resistant depressed patients with fatigue and hypocortisolaemia, prednisone augmentation may be useful.
PMID: 10999245
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poster:Sherry
thread:54520
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010212/msgs/54520.html