title: Alexithymic features in relation to the dexamethasone suppression test in a Finnish population sample.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Research Center, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lehtinen
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hyyppä
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puukka
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone