title: The dexamethasone suppression test and response to placebo.
abstract: The predictive value of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was evaluated in two consecutive double-blind, placebo-controlled trials evaluating 61 depressed inpatients randomized to either one of two drugs, sertraline or oxaprotiline, or placebo over a 4-week clinical trial. For 30 patients who completed at least 3 weeks of double-blind treatment on either drug, the initial DST was not predictive of response to drug treatment. For the 17 patients who completed at least 3 weeks of double-blind treatment on placebo, the presence of a positive DST predicted a statistically significantly poorer response to placebo as opposed to a negative DST. These preliminary findings suggest that for depressed individuals who present with a positive DST, remission without active medication is less likely and somatic treatment should be considered.
mesh_terms: D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008376:Maprotiline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D020280:Sertraline
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D008376:Maprotiline; C027299:hydroxymaprotilin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D020280:Sertraline