A 100-µg bolus of synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing factor was administered intravenously to 10 nondepressed inpatients suffering from an alcohol dependence disorder. The test was performed during withdrawal and after 4 weeks of abstinence. During withdrawal, the plasma cortisol responses of alcoholic patients and 7 control subjects were similar, except for an earlier decrease of cortisol in the former group. However, after 4 weeks of abstinence, the cortisol response was significantly lower in alcoholic patients than in controls. These abnormalities observed during discontinuance of alcohol consumption may reflect adaptive mechanisms of the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal activity which may be previously altered by chronic alcohol intoxication.

Keywords:
o-CRF test, Cortisol, ACTH, Alcohol dependence disorder
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© 1989 S. Karger AG, Basel
1989
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