Factors interfering with the 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test in depression.
The 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was performed in 50 depressive inpatients in order to investigate factors which might interfere with its sensitivity and specificity for endogenous depression: improvement within one week after the test, recent admission to a psychiatric ward, and weight loss. Four out of five endogenous depressive patients whose depression improved within one week after the test had normal suppression, thus supporting the assumption that normalization of the DST may precede the improvement in depression. Nonendogenous depressive patients had an accumulation of pathologic test results on the day after admission that may be due to "admission stress". However, in endogenous depressives this effect was not observed. An influence of weight loss on the percentage of suppressors and nonsuppressors was not demonstrable. It is concluded that in the evaluation of DST results time parameters should be considered to a greater degree.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, FRG.
A
A
Barocka
J
J
Pichl
G
G
Beck
R
R
Rupprecht
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors
D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone