Dexamethasone suppression test and response to antidepressants in depressed mentally handicapped subjects.
Nineteen mentally handicapped subjects who were referred to the service with clinically significant depression were assessed with a view to determining the value of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in clinical diagnosis and in predicting response to antidepressant treatment. They were assessed initially and then 3 months after they had been treated with a tricyclic antidepressant. It was found that a significant proportion had an abnormal DST response which reversed after recovery in some but not in others. Non-reversal was more likely to occur in the more severely handicapped patients. It was concluded that DST was of little value as a diagnostic tool for the detection of depression in mentally handicapped subjects.
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Mental Handicap Service, Salford Health Authority, Hope Hospital, England.
Keane
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004308:Dothiepin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004308:Dothiepin; D006854:Hydrocortisone