The elevation of plasma β-endorphin levels in major depression

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Abstract

Day-time plasma β-endorphin /β-lipothropic hormone (β-ENDO/β-LPH), ACTH and cortisol have been determined in 26 patients with major depression and 25 controls. β-ENDO/β-LPH and cortisol were significantly elevated in patients, while ACTH was not. Cortisol levels were significantly negatively correlated with age in controls as were β-ENDO/β-LPH and ACTH. In patients, by contrast, cortisol levels were positively, albeit not significantly, related to age. Peptide levels were not related to age in the patient group. Instead, β-ENDO/β-LPH was negatively correlated with clinical ratings of symptom severity in patients and positively associated with an acute psychosocial precipitant. The findings cast further light on β-ENDO/β-LPH as a measure of hypothalamic-pituitary over activity in depressive illness. A negative association with symptom severity suggests that β-ENDO/β-LPH responses are, like those of ACTH, down-regulated in the course of depressive illness.

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