title: Depression, weight loss and the dexamethasone suppression test.
abstract: The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was carried out on 143 patients with a major depressive disorder, who were classified into those with a history of weight loss (n = 89) and those without (n = 54). Seventy-three per cent of patients with weight loss and 61% of patients without had an abnormal DST; this difference was not statistically significant. Of the patients receiving prophylactic lithium therapy, 13 were found to have changed their DST status on retesting after a period of 14 months, but there was no significant difference in their weight. It is concluded that weight loss is not a necessary condition for an abnormal DST in depressive illness.
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D010912:Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone