Significantly increased urinary free cortisol excretion in melancholic depressed females during L-tryptophan loading

Abstract To assess the status of serotonergic neurotransmission in depressed females, the authors examined the excretion of free cortisol in 24 h urine both before and after administering 5 g L ‐tryptophan (L‐TRP) orally. The depressed patients were classified according to the DSM‐III into minor, simple major and major depression with melancholia. We found a significant, enhacing effect for L‐TRP on urinary free cortisol (UFC) excretion. The absolute increments in UFC induced by L‐TRP were significantly higher in melancholic females as compared to minor and simple major depressives. We found no differences among the DSM‐III groups in the availability of L‐TRP to the brain, 9 h after L‐TRP administration.