Dexamethasone for the treatment of depression: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' goal was to assess dexamethasone for the treatment of depression.


METHODS
Thirty-seven outpatients (11 men and 26 women) meeting DSM-III-R criteria for major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or 4 mg/day of oral dexamethasone for 4 days. Baseline Hamilton depression scale scores were compared with scores obtained 14 days after the first dose of study medication. Data were analyzed by using two-sample t tests, chi-square methods, and Fisher's exact test.


RESULTS
Seven (37%) of the 19 patients given dexamethasone but only one (6%) of the 18 patients given placebo responded positively. No adverse events or side effects were reported, and all patients who entered the study completed it.


CONCLUSIONS
A brief course of oral dexamethasone (4 days) was significantly more effective than placebo within 14 days for the treatment of depression in a randomized, double-blind study of depressed outpatients.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-0742.
G W
GW
Arana
A B
AB
Santos
M T
MT
Laraia
S
S
McLeod-Bryant
M D
MD
Beale
L J
LJ
Rames
J M
JM
Roberts
J K
JK
Dias
M
M
Molloy
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D010919:Placebos; D003907:Dexamethasone