DEXAMETHASONE SUPPRESSION TEST IN AFFECTIVE AND OTHER PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Abstract

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was administered to 59 patients with major affective disorders and 19 with other psychiatric disorders. The combinations of two dexamethasone doses (1mg vs 0.5mg) and two cortisol criterion levels (5μg/dl vs 4μg/dl) were adopted. The highest sensitivity (43%) was found with 0.5mg DST at the 4μg/dl criterion level for Major Depression. Our study failed to distinguish Melancholia in DSM III.