Background: Endophenotypes are heritable markers, which are more prevalent in patients and their healthy relatives than in the general population. Recent studies point at disturbed regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis as a possible endophenotype for depression. We hypothesize that potential endophenotypes for depression may be affected by selective serotonin re-uptake in...

To determine the site of action of fentanyl in attenuating the pituitary-adrenal response to surgery, we have measured serum concentrations of cortisol and growth hormone during and after a standardized surgical procedure in two groups of patients. One group received fentanyl 15 micrograms kg-1 i.v. immediately before the start of surgery; a second group received fentanyl 15 micrograms kg-1 i.v...