Is DST status associated with depression characteristics?
Depressed inpatients have a DST non-suppression rate that is several times greater than that of depressed outpatients. To explore what clinical features of depression might explain this difference, 25 depressed inpatients who were DST non-suppressors were compared with 16 DST suppressors, using 70 clinical variables. Those variables that were different between these two groups of inpatients were then used to compare depressed inpatients and outpatients. Three variables that were significantly associated with DST status in depressed inpatients were also found to differentiate between depressed inpatients and depressed outpatients. DST suppression was associated with a family history of alcoholism, with the symptom hypersomnia, and with a younger age at index interview.
Garvey
M J
MJ
Department of Psychiatry, VA Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52240.
Schaffer
C
C
Schaffer
L
L
Perry
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests
D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone