Dexamethasone suppression test and treatment response.
The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is frequently used to predict response to antidepressant therapy or to noradrenergic vs. serotonergic antidepressants. In a study of 173 inpatients and outpatients, the DST was not found to be predictive of response to antidepressant treatment for all depressed patients or of treatment response in a subgroup of melancholic patients (N = 86). Response of DST suppressors and nonsuppressors to antidepressants stratified by neurotransmitter specificity was not found to differ.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011897:Random Allocation
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone