Plasma cortisol concentrations were monitored in a nonstressful environmental among 48 rigorously assessed, drug-free adolescent subjects during an episode of major depression, & among 40 normal adolescent subjects. There were no significant differences in plasma cortisol in the 2 groups. Analyses of subgroups of depressed youths according to suicidality, severity of depression, separation anxiety, psychotic subtype, endogenicity, duration of episode & sex also showed no significant differences.