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Cushing's Syndrome, Tryptophan and Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

William F. Kelly ,
Stuart A. Checkley  and
David A. Bender
William F. Kelly
Affiliation:
Endocrine Unit, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London W12 0HS
Stuart A. Checkley
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5
David A. Bender
Affiliation:
Courtauld Institute of Biochemistry, The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London W1P 7PN
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Summary

Fifteen patients with active Cushing's syndrome have been compared with 15 other patients who had been treated successfully for Cushing's syndrome and with 13 patients with other pituitary tumours. Depression was the main psychiatric diagnosis made by the CATEGO programme after Present State Examinations. Patients with active Cushing's syndrome were significantly more depressed (Hamilton Rating Scores), than were the other patients. Compared with the control patients, those with active Cushing's syndrome had slightly lower plasma concentrations of total tryptophan, though the concentrations of freely diffusible tryptophan were not significantly changed.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 136 , Issue 2 , February 1980 , pp. 125 - 132
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1980 

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