Abstract
A number of researchers had reported that depression revealed a lot of neuroendocrine disturbance. Our previous studies (TSH response of TRH test in depression) suggested also neuroendocrine abnormality in pituitary hormones. But the studies of LH and FSH response in LH-RH test were very few in previous literatures.We experimented two cases of postmenopausal depressed women by comparing LH and FSH responses in LH-RH test before and after treatment.Case 1 was a 63 year-old menopaused female diagnosed as involutional melancholia. She complained of anorexia, restlessness and insomnia, and given trimipramine 25 mg and sulpiride 100mg per day by oral administration. Her clinical course was favorable remittent for 2-3 months, and her complaints such as appetite loss, anxiety and insomnia disappeared. Psychological test of depression score (SRQ-D) showed improved responses both in depressive and remittent states. As demonstrated by Altman et al., LH concentration of Case 1 was lower than the control.Case 2 was a 51 year-old female diagnosed as monopolar depression. She complained of dizziness and diminished drives, and given nortriptyline 25 mg, sulpiride 100 mg and lorazepam 1 mg. Her clinical course was relatively favorable, and psychological test revealed improvement. Her main complaints such as dizziness and diminished drives also subsided. LH-RH test revealed hyper-well response in a deprssive state and lower response in a remittent state.It was considered in Case 2 that changes of LH response would be corresponded to depressive phase. According to the above two cases, endocrinological change might be associated with the clinical classification.
