Abstract
The utility of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) as an adjunct in the diagnosis of major depression remains controversial. While the research utility of the DST has been confirmed, the clinical utility has been questioned. We studied 166 consecutive admissions to a general, non-research unit who either met DSM-III criteria for major depression or had depressive symptoms associated with other DSM-III diagnoses. Using a 5 μg/dl criterion, non-suppression of serum cortisol after dexamethasone was observed in 63% of patients with DSM-III major depression. Patients with the most severe subtypes of major depression (melancholia and psychosis) showed both the highest rate of serum cortisol non-suppression and the highest post-DST serum cortisol concentrations. These findings from the clinical setting where the test, if found useful, will be used ultimately suggest that the DST is both sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of major depression. Future research will determine the potential role of the DST as an adjunct to the clinical assessment and management of patients with major affective disorder.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 185-194 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Psychiatric Research |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1987 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
The clinical use of the dexamethasone suppression test in DSM-III affective disorders : Correlation with the severe depressive subtypes of melancholia and psychosis. / Evans, Dwight Landis; Nemeroff, Charles.
In: Journal of Psychiatric Research, Vol. 21, No. 2, 01.01.1987, p. 185-194.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The clinical use of the dexamethasone suppression test in DSM-III affective disorders
T2 - Correlation with the severe depressive subtypes of melancholia and psychosis
AU - Evans, Dwight Landis
AU - Nemeroff, Charles
PY - 1987/1/1
Y1 - 1987/1/1
N2 - The utility of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) as an adjunct in the diagnosis of major depression remains controversial. While the research utility of the DST has been confirmed, the clinical utility has been questioned. We studied 166 consecutive admissions to a general, non-research unit who either met DSM-III criteria for major depression or had depressive symptoms associated with other DSM-III diagnoses. Using a 5 μg/dl criterion, non-suppression of serum cortisol after dexamethasone was observed in 63% of patients with DSM-III major depression. Patients with the most severe subtypes of major depression (melancholia and psychosis) showed both the highest rate of serum cortisol non-suppression and the highest post-DST serum cortisol concentrations. These findings from the clinical setting where the test, if found useful, will be used ultimately suggest that the DST is both sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of major depression. Future research will determine the potential role of the DST as an adjunct to the clinical assessment and management of patients with major affective disorder.
AB - The utility of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) as an adjunct in the diagnosis of major depression remains controversial. While the research utility of the DST has been confirmed, the clinical utility has been questioned. We studied 166 consecutive admissions to a general, non-research unit who either met DSM-III criteria for major depression or had depressive symptoms associated with other DSM-III diagnoses. Using a 5 μg/dl criterion, non-suppression of serum cortisol after dexamethasone was observed in 63% of patients with DSM-III major depression. Patients with the most severe subtypes of major depression (melancholia and psychosis) showed both the highest rate of serum cortisol non-suppression and the highest post-DST serum cortisol concentrations. These findings from the clinical setting where the test, if found useful, will be used ultimately suggest that the DST is both sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of major depression. Future research will determine the potential role of the DST as an adjunct to the clinical assessment and management of patients with major affective disorder.
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U2 - 10.1016/0022-3956(87)90018-5
DO - 10.1016/0022-3956(87)90018-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 3585807
AN - SCOPUS:0023253830
VL - 21
SP - 185
EP - 194
JO - Journal of Psychiatric Research
JF - Journal of Psychiatric Research
SN - 0022-3956
IS - 2
ER -