title: Sensitivity and specificity of 1 and 2 mg dexamethasone suppression tests.
abstract: Sensitivity and specificity rates for 1 and 2 mg dexamethasone suppression tests (DSTs) are compared in 119 psychiatric inpatients diagnosed by DSM-III criteria. No differences are apparent between 1 and 2 mg groups. Moreover, combining a variety of affective disorders does not change the rates from those obtained using major depression alone. These data do not support a previous study which suggested that, compared to a 2 mg DST, a 1 mg test increases sensitivity without diminishing specificity. Nonsuppression appears to identify a subgroup of patients that cuts across several DSM-III categories.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone