title: Plasma 11-deoxycortisol and cortisol following dexamethasone in psychiatric patients.
abstract: As it has been suggested that calculating the ratio of cortisol to its biosynthetic precursor, 11-deoxycortisol, may enhance the sensitivity of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) for depression, cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol were measured in 90 subjects undergoing this test. Among these subjects, post-dexamethasone cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol levels were significantly correlated (r = 0.65, P less than 0.001) and evaluating the ratio of cortisol to 11-deoxycortisol decreased rather than enhanced sensitivity of the DST.
authors.affiliation: Affective Disorders Unit, Sunnyside Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Clifford
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brinded
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Donald
mesh_terms: D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids / Q000097:blood*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood; D003350:Cortodoxone / Q000097:blood*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015065:17-Hydroxycorticosteroids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003350:Cortodoxone; D006854:Hydrocortisone