This study was made in order to compare to neurohormonal activities of major depression with that of schizophrenic patients through dexameth asone suppression test. Out of 276 patients admitted to the department of neuropsychiatry of Catholic Medical College from Feb. 1, 1981 to Sept. 30, 1981, 74 patients without hormonal or other organic disturbances were selected for this study. The subjects consisted of 26 males and 48 females and ranging in age from 16 to 69 years with the mean age of 35. 4. Of the 74 patients 16 were diagnosed as major depression, 37 as schizophrenic disorders and 21 as others by the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd Edition (DSM-III) • We further tried to evaluate the abnormalities of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and diagnostic significances of nonsuppressed patients in each diagnostic group through the responses of dexamethasone suppression test. The results were as follows: 1. Before dexamethasone administration, plasma cortisol levels in major depression were lower than schizophrenic disorders and others, especially at 8 AM (p < . 01, p < . 05). 2. After dexamethasone administration, plasma cortisol levels in major depression were higher than schizophrenic disorders and others, especially at 8 AM (p<. 01，p < . 025). 3. Nonsuppressors as determined by 5ᄍg/dl of plasma cortisol levels on dexamethasone suppression test had the diagnostic sensitivity of 31. 3%, specificity of 91. 9%, and diagnostic confidence of 62. 5% for major depression and 8.1%, 86. 5% and 37. 5% respectively for schizophrenic disorders.
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