Serum dexamethasone concentrations in endogenous depressives before, during, and after treatment: preliminary observations.
The 1.0-mg Dexamethasone (DEX) Suppression Test (DST) was performed in 10 endogenous depressives prior to treatment, during treatment, and again when the patients were medication- and symptom-free. Five of the 10 patients were DST escapers prior to treatment, and all 10 patients were DST suppressors following treatment. During treatment, 6 patients were DST escapers, 2 of them having been suppressors initially. There were no significant differences in serum DEX concentrations before, during, and after treatment in either the 5 DST escapers or the 5 DST suppressors. These results lend further support to the concept that reduced serum DEX concentrations are not the major factor underlying DST nonsuppression.
Poland
R E
RE
Department of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance 90509.
Rubin
R T
RT
Lesser
I M
IM
D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007099:Imipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male
D000639:Amitriptyline; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008094:Lithium; D007099:Imipramine; D006854:Hydrocortisone