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Adrenal gland enlargement in major depression. A computed tomographic study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nemeroff, CB; Krishnan, KR; Reed, D; Leder, R; Beam, C; Dunnick, NR
Published in: Arch Gen Psychiatry
May 1992

To determine whether the well-documented hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in depressed patients includes adrenal gland hypertrophy, adrenal gland size was evaluated by computed tomography. Assessments consisted of (1) global ratings by two radiologists ignorant of the diagnostic identity of the subjects and (2) calculation of adrenal volume. Of the 38 patients with major depression, 12 were rated as exhibiting adrenal hypertrophy. Adrenal volumes in the depressed patients were significantly increased when compared with those of normal controls. Adrenal gland size was not correlated with dexamethasone suppression test results, patient age, duration of the depressive episode, or depression severity. These results are concordant with the hypothesis that chronic corticotropin hypersecretion in depression results in adrenocortical hypertrophy. Adrenal gland enlargement may be a measure of cumulative lifetime depression.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Arch Gen Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0003-990X

Publication Date

May 1992

Volume

49

Issue

5

Start / End Page

384 / 387

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Sex Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Psychiatry
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Hypertrophy
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

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Nemeroff, C. B., Krishnan, K. R., Reed, D., Leder, R., Beam, C., & Dunnick, N. R. (1992). Adrenal gland enlargement in major depression. A computed tomographic study. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 49(5), 384–387. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1992.01820050048008
Nemeroff, C. B., K. R. Krishnan, D. Reed, R. Leder, C. Beam, and N. R. Dunnick. “Adrenal gland enlargement in major depression. A computed tomographic study.Arch Gen Psychiatry 49, no. 5 (May 1992): 384–87. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1992.01820050048008.
Nemeroff CB, Krishnan KR, Reed D, Leder R, Beam C, Dunnick NR. Adrenal gland enlargement in major depression. A computed tomographic study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1992 May;49(5):384–7.
Nemeroff, C. B., et al. “Adrenal gland enlargement in major depression. A computed tomographic study.Arch Gen Psychiatry, vol. 49, no. 5, May 1992, pp. 384–87. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1992.01820050048008.
Nemeroff CB, Krishnan KR, Reed D, Leder R, Beam C, Dunnick NR. Adrenal gland enlargement in major depression. A computed tomographic study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1992 May;49(5):384–387.

Published In

Arch Gen Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0003-990X

Publication Date

May 1992

Volume

49

Issue

5

Start / End Page

384 / 387

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Sex Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Psychiatry
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Hypertrophy
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Humans
  • Female