The dexamethasone suppression test in panic disorder.
The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was performed in 35 patients with panic disorder and 21 normal control subjects. Non-suppression of plasma cortisol was determined as 4 micrograms/dl and using this figure 29% of panic patients and 9.5% of controls were non-suppressors. There was no significant difference in the number of suppressors and non-suppressors between patient and control groups (chi 2 = 1.81; P greater than 0.05). Both pre- and postdexamethasone cortisol concentrations were significantly different between the two groups possible indicating a cortisol hypersecretion in some panic patients.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010200:Panic / Q000502:physiology*
D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone