Psychopathology and plasma cortisol responses to dexamethasone in prepubertal psychiatric inpatients.
This study of 51 prepubertal psychiatric inpatients evaluates plasma cortisol measurements at 8 AM, 4 PM, and 11 PM before and after dexamethasone was administered in counterbalanced order at doses of 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg. Approximately 76.5% of the children had an affective disorder. Major depressive disorder was associated with higher plasma cortisol levels than other disorders. Pre- and postdexamethasone plasma cortisol levels using 0.5 mg dexamethasone exhibited a circadian variation. The optimal criterion for cortisol nonsuppression was 5 micrograms/dl measured at 8 AM after administration of 0.5 mg dexamethasone.
Pfeffer
C R
CR
Department of Psychiatry, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY.
Stokes
P
P
Weiner
A
A
Shindledecker
R
R
Faughnan
L
L
Mintz
M
M
Stoll
P M
PM
Heiligenstein
E
E
D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis
D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone