The most consistent biological findings in @entity1 with @entity308 are abnormalities in the @entity2339 , which can be measured using the combined @entity619 -suppression/CRH-stimulation (Dex-CRH) test. The reactivity of the @entity2339 in this test, however, ranges over several orders of magnitude in @entity308 @entity1 with comparable severity of symptoms. In this present study, we investigate which factors influence the magnitude of the response in the Dex-CRH test in 235 acutely @entity308 in- @entity1 . We first examined the effects of common confounders shown to influence the @entity2339 , such as @entity5834 and @entity1239 consumption, acute stressors during the test, weight, gender, and age. Of all these variables, only female sex and @entity1239 consumption were positively correlated with the @entity701 or ACTH response, respectively. As for the effects of psychopharmacological treatment, only the intake of @entity2049 and the fact of having relapsed under an established pharmacotherapy significantly increased the response in the Dex-CRH test, whereas the presence or absence of antidepressant treatment, the type of antidepressant treatment, or the number of ineffective antidepressant treatment trials during the index episode up to admission did not have any effect. We also found a positive correlation of the number of previous episodes, the overall HAM-D score and the severity of somatic/vegetative symptoms with the results in the Dex-CRH test. These results underline that in @entity308 @entity1 this test is not majorly influenced by disease-unrelated factors. In addition, current antidepressant treatment does not appear to affect test outcome in the absence of clinical response. The influence of the number of previous episodes and relapse under pharmacotherapy suggests that @entity2339 reactivity may be altered by repetitive states of hypercortisolemia or continuous antidepressant treatment. Finally, more severe vegetative symptoms are associated with an enhanced @entity2339 activity.

Pharmacological and nonpharmacological factors influencing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis reactivity in acutely @entity308 psychiatric in- XXXX , measured by the Dex-CRH test.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity308 :: ('MESH:D003866', 'Disease') :: ['depressed', 'depression'] @entity1239 :: ('MESH:D009538', 'Chemical') :: ['nicotine'] @entity5834 :: ('MESH:D002110', 'Chemical') :: ['caffeine'] @entity619 :: ('MESH:D003907', 'Chemical') :: ['dexamethasone'] @entity2339 :: ('MESH:D007029', 'Disease') :: ['hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis', 'HPA-axis'] @entity701 :: ('MESH:D006854', 'Chemical') :: ['cortisol'] @entity2049 :: ('MESH:D002220', 'Chemical') :: ['carbamazepine']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
