title: The dexamethasone suppression test in prepubertal depressed children.
abstract: The authors evaluated 18 dysphoric children aged 6--12 years by structured clinical assessments and an overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST) administered on an outpatient basis. Nine children met diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, and 8 of the 9 also met the Research Diagnostic Criteria for endogenous depression. Of the 9 depressed children, 5 had abnormal DST results; 8 of the 9 nondepressed children had normal test results. The results suggest that endogenous depression in childhood is not a rare condition and that it is clinically and neuroendocrinologically similar to the adult disorder. The DST may be useful as a diagnostic aid with depressed children.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone