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  • Title: L-5-hydroxytryptophan stimulated cortisol escape from dexamethasone suppression in melancholic patients.
    Author: Maes M, D'Hondt P, Martin M, Claes M, Schotte C, Vandewoude M, Blockx P.
    Journal: Acta Psychiatr Scand; 1991 Apr; 83(4):302-6. PubMed ID: 2028807.
    Abstract:
    The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was carried out in 62 depressed patients. At 0800 the postdexamethasone cortisol values were determined and 125 mg L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP) was administered. The second cortisol sample at 0930 revealed a significant enhancing effect for L-5-HTP on the postdexamethasone cortisol values in melancholic patients, whereas no effects were detected in minor depressives. Our results show that L-5-HTP converts some DST suppressors into nonsuppressors, whereas the escape from dexamethasone in some nonsuppressors is markedly stimulated. The L-5-HTP-stimulated 0930 postdexamethasone cortisol values performed markedly better than the 0800 DST results: at a cut-off value of greater than or equal to 5 micrograms/dl the sensitivity for melancholia increased from 46% to 68%, and the specificity remained unchanged (96%).
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