Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor function in post-stroke depression.

The growth hormone (GH) response to desipramine was measured in ten patients meeting criteria for post-stroke depression (PSD), eight age-matched post-stroke (PS) non-depressed patients and eight healthy controls. Responses were significantly blunted in patients with PSD. These findings suggest diminished alpha-2 adrenoceptor function may be an important marker for PSD.