Correlations between mood scores, LH, adrenocortical steroids, and urine volumes in a patient with a history of postpartum depression and monthly psychotic episodes.

A simple semantic differential test was administered twice daily and urinary hormones measured as described previously . The subjects included the patient and two controls, one of whom experienced premenstrual physical, but not mental, discomfort. The test scores of the two controls, administered for five weeks, did not differ significantly from one another but greatly differed from those of the patient. The highest scores in the patient (indicating improved mood) were obtained during the week containing the urinary LH peak, and daily ratings correlated significantly with LH values. Significant, positive, correlations were also found between mood and ratios for aldosterone/cortisol, 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone(18-OH-DOC)/cortisol, and 18-OH-DOC/18-hydroxycorticosterone. Urine volumes correlated positively with cortisol, negatively with 18-OH-DOC, and negatively with mood (P<0.01). Urinary hormone assays, affording the advantages of a non-invasive technique may thus reveal relationships of potential interest. Whether these are causal, rather than casual, remains to be assessed.