title: Findings with 0.25 mg dexamethasone suppression test in eating disorders: association with childhood trauma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While both blunted and enhanced cortisol suppression following a dexamethasone suppression test (DST) are described in eating disorders, some evidence suggests that enhanced cortisol suppression might be associated with the presence of trauma history. The objective of this study is to investigate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to a modified DST in eating disorders and its relationship with childhood trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients with eating disorders were studied with a 0.25 mg DST and with measures of childhood trauma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with bulimia symptoms had significantly greater cortisol suppression than controls and restrictive anorexia patients (F=8.2, P<.05). Cortisol suppression was significantly correlated with intensity of childhood traumatic events (F=0.32, P<.05). Hypersensitive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to DST in eating disorders may be related with a history of childhood trauma and suggests some biological similarities with posttraumatic syndromes that should be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. mdiazm.hcsc@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz-Marsá
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Basurte
authors.forename: José I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Pastrana
authors.forename: Jerónimo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sáiz-Ruiz
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: López-Ibor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology*