Daily life events influence the results of the Dexamethasone Suppression Test in healthy women.
Although the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) plays an important role in psychosomatic research, confounding factors limit the sensitivity and specificity of the DST. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the intensity of daily life stressors and DST results in healthy participants after controlling the confounding factors. The subjects of this study consisted of 75 healthy volunteers. The intensity of daily life events was assessed using the Taiwanese version of the Recent Life Change Questionnaire (RLCQ). Neuroticism was assessed using the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI). The Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) was also performed. The regression model showed that daily life events (RLCQ score) were correlated significantly with cortisol level on day 1 and D% only in women. This finding implies that daily life events should be considered as an independent variable in women in further studies when the DST is applied.
National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Wei Tseng
WT
Chen
Tzung Lieh
TL
Yeh
Venla
V
Lehti
Shu Hui
SH
Cheng
Ching Lin
CL
Chu
Kao Chin
KC
Chen
I Hui
IH
Lee
Po See
PS
Chen
Yen Kuang
YK
Yang
D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health
D003907:Dexamethasone