The Dexamethasone Suppression Test and Suicidal Patients

1985 ◽  
Vol 147 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Ennis ◽  
Rosemary A. Barnes ◽  
Sidney Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Patient Population ◽  
Tricyclic Antidepressants ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Suicidal Patients ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was used in an in-patient crisis unit to determine whether the test could identify suicidal patients who might benefit from tricyclic antidepressants. DST results, DSM-III diagnoses, and measures of symptom levels were obtained for 72 patients admitted for a 3–5 day period; 31 were non-suppressors. Abnormal DST results were not related to DSM-III diagnosis or to scores on measures of depression and symptom levels. Only three patients met DSM-III criteria for major depression with melancholia; 26 patients had a diagnosis of alcohol or substance abuse. The poor specificity of the DST in this patient population suggests that its routine use in such patients could be highly misleading.

Age and the dexamethasone suppression test: Results from a broad unselected patient population

1992 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabor I. Keitner ◽  
Christine E. Ryan ◽  
Robert Kohn ◽  
Ivan W. Miller ◽  
William H. Norman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Population ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Unselected Patient ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Unselected Patient Population ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

The corticotropin releasing factor stimulation test in patients with major depression: Relationship to dexamethasone suppression test results

Depression ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Ranga R. Krishnan ◽  
Krishnaiah Rayasam ◽  
Deborah Reed ◽  
Mark Smith ◽  
Phillip Chapell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Major Depression ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Corticotropin Releasing Factor ◽  
Stimulation Test ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

The dexamethasone suppression test in major depression: clinical and polysomnographic findings

1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-339
Author(s):  
Ph.P. Hubain ◽  
L. Staner ◽  
M. Dramaix ◽  
M. Kerkhofs ◽  
C. Van Veeren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Major Depression ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

Measured Weight Loss and the Dexamethasone Suppression Test*

1989 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 707-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidney H. Kennedy ◽  
Paul E. Garfinkel ◽  
Stephen Stokl ◽  
Carrol A. Whynot
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Measured Weight ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

In a prospective study of 28 subjects with major depression, weight was significantly related to nonsuppression in the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) on admission and seven days later. However, changes in weight between these two times did not alter the DST status.

Agoraphobia and the Dexamethasone Suppression Test: Atypical Depression?

1984 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Whiteford ◽  
Larry Evans
Keyword(s):  
Tricyclic Antidepressants ◽  
Biological Marker ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Atypical Depression ◽  
Panic Disorders ◽  
State Dependent ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

The tricyclic antidepressants and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors have been shown to be effective in the treatment of some patients with phobic and panic disorders. To explain this action it has been suggested that a number of these patients may have an atypical biological depression. In an attempt to test this hypothesis we used the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), which has been proposed as a state dependent biological marker of depression. We compared the non-suppression rate of agoraphobic patients suffering panic attacks with controls and with patients suffering major depression. Twenty-nine per cent of the agoraphobics showed non-suppression compared with 12% of the control group and 64% of the depressives.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document