Correlations Between Behavioral Variables and Urinary 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids in Depressed Patients

Abstract

This paper presents a study of the relationship of urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids (17-OHCS) to behavioral variables in depressed patients. Longitudinal behavioral ratings of depression and anxiety showed high positive correlations with 17-OHCS levels when analyzed over time for a given patient. However, if mean depression ratings and mean 17-OHCS levels were taken for each of the 17 patients studied, a significant positive correlation was not obtained. This is accounted for by one group of the patients who showed low 17-OHCS levels and high depression ratings. Two subgroups of patients were identified in terms of corticosteroid levels. The data suggest that those with high 17-OHCS levels were often more aware of and involved in the struggle with their illness, while many with high depression ratings and low 17-OHCS levels showed extensive denial of their depression. Behaviorally stable patients ran stable 17-OHCS levels, while patients with fluctuating behavior showed fluctuating 17-OHCS levels.