Alexithymic features in relation to the dexamethasone suppression test in a Finnish population sample.
Hypothesizing that a positive DST result could reflect an aberrant stress reaction in subjects with alexithymic features, the authors investigated the relationship between alexithymic features and DST results in 266 subjects from a Finnish adult population sample. Alexithymic features were assessed with the Beth Israel Questionnaire. The authors found a statistically significant association between observed alexithymic features and a positive DST result. This association could be seen after adjustment separately for age, social rank, marital status, and the occurrence of depression.
Lindholm
T
T
Rehabilitation Research Center, Turku, Finland.
Lehtinen
V
V
Hyyppä
M T
MT
Puukka
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology
D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone