title: The dexamethasone suppression test and DSM-III-R diagnoses in suicide attempters.
abstract: Previous research on hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis-activity in suicide attempter research has shown conflicting outcomes. The design of the present study was to test the influence of personality disorders and concominant axis I diagnoses on the dexamethasone suppression diagnostic test by use of multiple regression analyses. The sample consisted of 184 patients with a recent suicide attempt and 42 healthy controls. As expected, the lowest pre- and postdexamethasone cortisol levels were found in patients with personality disorders axis II, cluster B as compared to the other patients. The results remained significant when analysed for covariance with DSM-III-R axis I diagnoses, age or sex. Whether these low cortisol levels are due to previous experience of extreme stressful events or long-lasting burden, or whether they may be a consequence of biogenetic or psychological predisposal of interest, remains to be elucidated. Axis I comorbidity needs to be further examined.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lund University, 221 85, Lund, Sweden. asa.westrin@psykiatr.lu.se
authors.forename: Asa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Westrin
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frii
authors.forename: Lil
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Träskman-Bendz
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone