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Salivary Testosterone Levels and Major Depressive Illness in Men

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

R. Huw Davies ,
Brian Harris ,
D. Roger Thomas ,
Nigel Cook ,
Graham Read  and
Diana Riad-Fahmy
R. Huw Davies
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine
Brian Harris*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff
D. Roger Thomas
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine
Nigel Cook
Affiliation:
Steroid Assay Laboratory, Tenovus Institute, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
Graham Read
Affiliation:
Steroid Assay Laboratory, Tenovus Institute, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
Diana Riad-Fahmy
Affiliation:
Steroid Assay Laboratory, Tenovus Institute, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Studies of testosterone levels in patients with major depressive illness have produced varying results, plasma levels usually being reported. Saliva levels reflect ‘free’ plasma testosterone, and a pilot study of 11 men with major depression with melancholia, who underwent a standard dexamethasone suppression test, is described. There were no significant differences in testosterone levels compared with an age-matched control group. In the patient group, pre-dexamethasone levels correlated significantly and negatively with depression ratings on the 21–item Hamilton and the Montgomery and åsberg depression scales, and also with state anxiety measured on the Spielberger scale.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 161 , Issue 5 , November 1992 , pp. 629 - 632
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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