The Response of Chronically Fatigued Neurotic Patients to Adrenal Cortex Therapy1

Adaptive Reaction to Stress

“…Many of the manifestations of experimental nervous shock in animals were ascribed to a relative corticoid deficiency and were relieved by cortical extracts (9)-Still more interesting are the allegedly beneficial effects of cortical extracts in a number of mental conditions seemingly unrelated to Addison's disease. Favorable results have been claimed in the treatment of chronic fatigue (37,41,79), various psychoneuroses (42,45,47,54), confusional states (51), and such well-characterized psychotic conditions as manic depressive psychosis (68, 69) and schizophrenia 53, 68, 69). However, other workers have failed to detect any improvement in the mental condition of schizophrenics treated with cortical extracts (24,25,53).…”

The Chloride Excretion Test (Cutler-Wilder-Power Test) in Asthenia

“…In 5 normal control cases, chloride excretion showed little variation and no influence of the menstrual cycle. 4. It is concluded that some patients suffering from asthenia and exhaustion may temporarily show signs of adrenal cortical insufficiency.…”