Possible adrenal insufficiency among fatigue patients in a psychosomatic medical clinic.

Abstract

Fatigue is a common symptom in patients visiting the clinic of psychosomatic medicine. A 250-μg synthetic ACTH (1-24) test (rapid ACTH test) and Beck depression inventory (BDI) were performed for 62 patients presenting with fatigue who visited the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine at Fukuoka Tokushukai Hospital. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the serum cortisol response to the rapid ACTH test; those with a peak serum cortisol level of <15 μg/dL were defined as the adrenal insufficiency (AI) probable group, ≥15 μg/dL and <18 μg/dL as the AI suspected group, and ≥18 μg/dL as the non-AI group. Patients prescribed anti-depressants, had a BDI ≥16, and/or met the full criteria for major depression were diagnosed with depression. Five (8.0%) and 7 patients (11.3%) were assigned to the AI probable and AI suspected groups, respectively. All others were assigned to the non-AI group. Depression was observed in 37 patients (59.6%; 4 in the AI probable group [80.0%], 4 in the AI suspected group [57.1%], and 29 in the non-AI group [58.0%]). Users of exogenous steroids, such as inhaled steroids for bronchial asthma, were seen in the AI probable group (2; 40.0%), the AI suspected group (3; 42.8%), and the non-AI group (7; 14.0%) (χ2 = 4.761, p = 0.0925). In conclusion, probable or suspected AI was observed in about one-fifth of patients presenting with fatigue at the psychosomatic medical clinic. A CRH test and insulin tolerance test (ITT) may help the he mechanism underlying these possible AIs.