Effects of electroconvulsive therapy and desipramine on neuroendocrine responses to the clonidine challenge test.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate responses to the clonidine challenge test in depression, and after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or desipramine treatment for depression, in order to determine the usefulness of noradrenergic responses to clonidine as a state or trait marker in depression. PATIENTS: Twenty-six patients with depression and 15 control subjects.