Lithium, arginine vasopressin and the dex/CRH test in mood disordered patients

What Was Tested

Researchers studied ACTH (Corticotropin) and CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) in this clinical trial publication.

The impact of lithium on arginine vasopressin (AVP) release has implications for their understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders and for the interpretation of neuroendocrine studies.

In this secondary analysis of neuroendocrine, data from 23 patients with chronic major depressive disorder, 41 patients with bipolar disorder and 18 healthy controls, the researchers examine the relationship between lithium therapy, AVP levels and the cortisol response to the dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing hormone (dex/CRH) test.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 23 patients were involved.

PubMed indexes the participants as adults and middle-aged adults, both men and women.

What Was Measured

In this secondary analysis of neuroendocrine, data from 23 patients with chronic major depressive disorder, 41 patients with bipolar disorder and 18 healthy controls, the researchers examine the relationship between lithium therapy, AVP levels and the cortisol response to the dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing hormone (dex/CRH) test.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Antidepressive Agents, Arginine Vasopressin, Bipolar Disorder, Case-Control Studies, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Major Depressive Disorder and Dexamethasone.

What This Means in Plain Language

This is a clinical trial of ACTH (Corticotropin) and CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) in 23 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2007 (Psychoneuroendocrinology), a journal based in England.

More context: the ACTH (Corticotropin) compound page and the CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) compound page, all human trials.