title: Dexamethasone suppression test in positive and negative schizophrenia.
abstract: Fifty-four inpatients with a DSM-III diagnosis of schizophrenia were studied. Patients were divided into positive and negative subtypes of schizophrenia according to Andreasen's criteria. Blood samples were obtained from all patients for 2 consecutive days to determine plasma cortisol concentrations before and after a single administration (1 mg, p.o.) of dexamethasone at 11 p.m. The results revealed a significant increase in plasma cortisol levels in schizophrenic patients, with 40% of the patients being nonsuppressors on the dexamethasone suppression test. A higher percentage (62.5%) of patients with the negative form of schizophrenia were nonsuppressors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Altamura
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guercetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Percudani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone