Life events, depression and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function.

The relationship between antecedent life events, clinical profile, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function was examined in 72 depressed patients. Antecedent life events were associated with first episodes of depression and with greater severity of illness, but their presence did not distinguish between patients diagnosed as endogenous or neurotic, and status on the dexamethasone suppression test was not associated with a greater or lesser likelihood of antecedent events. However, urinary free cortisol levels were higher in those patients with life events and difficulties.