Plasma “cortisol” levels in pellagrins

Abstract

Circulating plasma cortisol levels are essentially normal in pellagrins. The reciprocal relationship between cortisol and serotonin which has been postulated in other psychiatric disorders was not observed in pellagrins, who had varying grades of anxiety, tension, apprehension and insomnia. The response to stimulation with synthetic ACTH (β1–24 corticotrophin) was also similar to normal subjects indicating an intact pituitary-adrenal axis. Studies on the rate of secretion and rate of disappearance of cortisol from plasma are necessary for a proper understanding of the role of altered cortisol metabolism if any, in pellagrins with depressive psychosis.