Dissociation of TSH adrenocortical disturbances in endogenous depression.

To evaluate a possible interaction between the pituitary-thyroid axis and the pituitary-adrenal axis, we measured serum levels of thyrotropin (thyroid stimulating hormone; TSH), the maximal TSH response (delta max TSH) to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of cortisol, urinary excretion of cortisol, and the plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in 20 patients with endogenous depression before and after electroconvulsive therapy. No significant correlations were found between serum TSH or delta max TSH on the one hand, and serum and CSF cortisol or urinary excretion of cortisol on the other hand. A direct correlation was found between serum cortisol and plasma ACTH.