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Prediction of Outcome in Depressed Patients by Weekly Monitoring with the Dexamethasone Suppression Test

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

I. Schweitzer ,
K. P. Maguire ,
A. H. Gee ,
J. W. G. Tiller ,
N. Biddle  and
B. Davies
I. Schweitzer*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychistry, University of Melbourne
K. P. Maguire
Affiliation:
Department of Psychistry, University of Melbourne
A. H. Gee
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Melbourne Hospital
J. W. G. Tiller
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne
N. Biddle
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne
B. Davies
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne
*
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia
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Abstract

Forty-three depressed patients in hospital were studied with weekly dexamethasone suppression tests (DSTs) and were followed as out-patients for at least three months after discharge. The detection rate of patients with LHPA axis dysfunction increased from 41% with a single DST to 59% with serial DSTs. There was a poor correlation between weekly post-dexamethasone cortisol levels and Hamilton depression rating scores. In patients with evidence of LHPA axis dysfunction, a DST at discharge discriminated effectively between a good and a poor outcome group; persistent non-suppression was strongly linked with a relapse of depression in the first three months after discharge. In general, our results support previous claims that the DST is a state marker for depressive illness.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 151 , Issue 6 , December 1987 , pp. 780 - 784
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1987 

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