title: The methodological and statistical evaluation of medical tests: the dexamethasone suppression test in psychiatry.
abstract: Presented herein is a step-by-step discussion of the statistical evaluation of a medical test, using the literature concerning the DST to provide good and bad examples of its implementations. Specific topics of concern include: (1) conceptualization issues such as the definition of a test and its purpose; (2) implementation issues such as sampling and blindness; (3) analytic issues such as choice of statistical measures of quality; (4) issues of correct and realistic interpretation of results; and, finally (5) cost-benefit issues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, California 94305.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kraemer
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone