title: Dexamethasone concentrations and the dexamethasone suppression test in psychiatric disorders.
abstract: The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) has been widely used in psychiatry as a laboratory aid for the diagnosis of endogenous depression; failure to suppress serum cortisol levels is interpreted as confirming a clinical diagnosis of endogenous depression. We found that serum dexamethasone concentrations in this test vary widely and are determinants of the DST response: non-suppression of serum cortisol levels is associated with low serum dexamethasone concentrations, and suppression is associated with high concentrations.
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000097:blood; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone