Abstract

Cortisone is a steroid hormone, responsible for the stress resp, released from the adrenal gland, altered activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the most consistent findings in depression. The present investigation aimed to study the serum cortisol level in patients with major depression. Serum cortisol level was higher in depression patients 14.5±3.01µg/dl than in control group 11.56±1.33 µg/dl. Conclusion: Hyper secretion of corticotrophin releasing hormone increased cortisol levels in plasma, urine and cerebrospinal fluid exaggerated cortisol responses to adrenocorticotropic hormone and enlarged pituitary and adrenal glands occurs in individuals suffering from severe mood disorders.