DST abnormality as a predictor of course in major depression.
Seventy-six inpatients with major depression received a 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and began a semi-annual follow-up lasting 5 years. The 20 subjects with abnormal baseline DST results were significantly more likely to make psychologically serious suicide attempts during follow-up though baseline suppressors were as likely as non-suppressors to make non-serious attempts. Patients who were non-suppressors at the beginning of follow-up were also more likely to develop'mania or hypomania, whether or not they had a bipolar diagnosis at intake.
Coryell
W
W
University of Iowa, Department of Psychiatry, Iowa City 52242.
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology
D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone