Neuroendocrinological investigations during sleep deprivation in depression. I. Early morning levels of thyrotropin, TH, cortisol, prolactin, LH, FSH, estradiol, and testosterone

Measurements of 12 hormones were conducted in patients with major depressive disorder at 8 AM on the morning before and at 8 AM on the morning after total sleep deprivation (SD). Thyrotropin (TSH), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and free T3 (fT3) were measured in 50 patients, free T4 in 39 patients, reverse T3, cortisol, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone in 21, estradiol in 20 (women), and testosterone in 14 (men). After SD, there was a significant rise in TSH, T4, T3, and fT3 concentrations and a significant fall in testosterone levels. The increases in TSH levels were significantly correlated to clinical response. Responders to SD had higher T4, fT4, rT3, and testosterone concentrations before SD. Neither age, gender, polarity, nor antidepressant medication had a clearly significant effect on the response to SD.