Clinical utilization of the dexamethasone suppression test.
To explore the procedural nature and clinical impact of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in psychiatric hospital practice, case records of 115 consecutive psychiatric inpatients who had undergone overnight DSTs were examined. It was found that clinicians often fail to perform the test according to previously established guidelines and that the results obtained rarely affect clinical psychiatric management in a positive manner.
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010347:Patient Care Planning
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone