Relationships between brain ct scan findings and cortisol in psychotic and nonpsychotic depressed patients

Anthony J. Rothschild, Francine Benes, Nancy Hebben, Bryan Woods, Monica Luciana, Erin Bakanas, Jacqueline A. Samson, Alan F. Schatzberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this report, data are presented on pre- and postdexamethasone cortisol levels, neuropsychological testing, and computed tomography (CT) scan findings in 30 depressed patients (15 psychotic and 15 nonpsychotic). Particularly significant findings were observed when data from the unipolar subgroup (n = 22) were analyzed separately. Unipolar psychotic depressed patients had significantly larger (p < 0.05) anterior pole and cella media ventricle-to-brain ratios (VBRs) and significantly greater (p < 0.05) left and right inferior parietal brain "atrophy" than nonpsychotic depressed patients. Higher rates of Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) nonsuppression were observed in psychotic depressed patients and in patients with larger cella VBRs. Inferior parietal brain atrophv and large VBRs were also associated with greater cognitive impairment on psychometric testing. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)565-575
Number of pages11
JournalBiological Psychiatry
Volume26
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1989

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