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Cushing's Syndrome and Depression—A Prospective Study of 26 Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

William F. Kelly ,
Stuart A. Checkley ,
David A. Bender  and
Keith Mashiter
William F. Kelly
Affiliation:
Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL
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
Keith Mashiter
Affiliation:
Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS
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Summary

Of 26 patients with active Cushing's syndrome assessed before and at three and 12 months after treatment, 21 had pituitary-dependent disease. Median urinary free Cortisol values (per 24 hours) were 680, 180 and 200 nmol at zero, three and 12 months (normal <270 nmol), with significant improvement (P <0.001) at three and 12 months. Depression on the Hamilton rating scale was significantly less at three months (P <0.01) and at 12 months (P <0.001). We have already demonstrated that some patients with Cushing's syndrome have PSE diagnoses of depression and are more depressed than patients with other pituitary tumours. This is the firmest evidence to date that when Cushing's syndrome occurs it commonly causes depressive illness.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 142 , Issue 1 , January 1983 , pp. 16 - 19
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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