Biochemical Profile of Depressed Adolescents

Eighty‐four adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 were investigated with the help of dexamethasone suppression test (DST), thyrotropin releasing hormone stimulation test (TRH), and 24‐hour urinary content of 3‐methoxy‐4 hydroxy‐phenethylene glycol (MHPG). This group included 33 depressed (major depression) and 51 nondepressed adolescents who were hospitalized in a psychiatric inpatient unit. DST was found to be a highly sensitive and fairly specific test (69.9% of the depressed group was DST positive, whereas 82% of the nondepressed group was DST negative). TRH stimulation test and urinary MHPG tests did not show significant sensitivity or specificity for major depression. Thirty‐three percent of the major depression and 17.6% of the nondepressed group showed blunted response on TRH stimulation test. Similarly, 56.6% of the major depression group and 41% of the nondepressed group had MHPG values beyond the normal range.