Platelet serotonin-binding and dexamethasone suppression test in melancholia and dysthymia

SummaryPlatelet serotonin-binding (Bmax), using tritiated-seroionin as the ligand, was determined in 75 patients suffering from major depression with melancholia and in 26 patients diagnosed from dysthymic disorder. Twenty-five normal subjects were used as a control group. The melancholic group had significantly lower Bmax values (mean: 6.7 ± 6.1 pmol/108 platelets) than either dysthymic (9.3 ± 3.9 pmol/108 platelets) or control (9.2 ± 4.8 pmol/108 platelets) groups, while there were no significant differences between the two latter groups. There was also a significant difference on postdexamethasone Cortisol between melancholic (6.3 ± 7.1 μg/dL) and dysthymic (1.4 ± 1.4 μg/dL) groups, with a higher rate of nonsuppressors in melancholic groups. Although both tests were abnormal in the melancholic group, no relationship was found between platelet serotonin-binding and the dexaniethasone suppression test.

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The dexamethasone suppression test in bulimic outpatients without major depression

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1017/s0924933800003333 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 85-89

Author(s):

D Bailly ◽

N Regnaut ◽

PJ Parquet

Keyword(s):

Anorexia Nervosa ◽

Major Depression ◽

Past History ◽

Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽

Low Weight ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Abnormal Eating ◽

History Of ◽

Suppression Test ◽

Dexamethasone Suppression

SummaryRecent studies have examined the effectiveness of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in the evaluation of bulimia. In a series of 18 female bulimic outpatients without major depression, 9 (50%) failed to suppress on the DST. No significant difference was found between suppressors and nonsuppressors in personal and family histories of affective disorder, levels of anxious and depressive symptoms, psychoactive substance abuse, and severity of abnormal eating-related behaviours. In contrast, non-suppression was significantly associated with low weight. There is a trend to differentiate non-suppressors from suppressors in the current diagnosis of anorexia nervosa and in past history of anorexia nervosa. Seven patients received fluvoxamine for 8 weeks. Five patients were suppressors and showed a significant decrease in the frequency of their binges while the 2 non-suppressors did not improve. These preliminary results suggest that DST non-suppression might be typical of bulimic patients with anorexia nervosa and that pretreatment DST results might predict the response of bulimic behaviour to treatment with fluvoxamine.

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SIMPLIFIED DEXAMETHASONE SUPPRESSION TEST

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0610219 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 61 (2) ◽

pp. 219-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

V. H. Asfeldt

Keyword(s):

Cushing’S Syndrome ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Cushing's Syndrome ◽

Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽

Clinical Value ◽

Suppression Test ◽

The One ◽

Steroid Excretion ◽

Dexamethasone Suppression

ABSTRACT This is an investigation of the practical clinical value of the one mg dexamethasone suppression test of Nugent et al. (1963). The results, evaluated from the decrease in fluorimetrically determined plasma corticosteroids in normal subjects, as well as in cases of exogenous obesity, hirsutism and in Cushing's syndrome, confirm the findings reported in previous studies. Plasma corticosteroid reduction after one mg of dexamethasone in cases of stable diabetes was not significantly different from that observed in control subjects, but in one third of the insulin-treated diabetics only a partial response was observed, indicating a slight hypercorticism in these patients. An insufficient decrease in plasma corticosteroids was observed in certain other conditions (anorexia nervosa, pituitary adenoma, patients receiving contraceptive or anticonvulsive treatment) with no hypercorticism. The physiological significance of these findings is discussed. It is concluded that the test, together with a determination of the basal urinary 17-ketogenic steroid excretion, is suitable as the first diagnostic test in patients in whom Cushing's syndrome is suspected. In cases of insufficient suppression of plasma corticosteroids, further studies, including the suppression test of Liddle (1960), must be carried out.

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Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response in borderline personality disorder without post-traumatic features

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.106.022590 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 190 (4) ◽

pp. 357-358 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Jose L. Carrasco ◽

Marina Díaz-Marsá ◽

Jose I. Pastrana ◽

Rosa Molina ◽

Loreto Brotons ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Borderline Personality Disorder ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Feedback Inhibition ◽

Borderline Personality ◽

Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽

Control Group ◽

Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal ◽

Suppression Test ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Dexamethasone Suppression

SummaryHypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis sensitivity was investigated in 32 non-medicated patients with borderline personality disorder without comorbid post-traumatic syndromes and in 18 normal individuals using a modified dexamethasone suppression test (0.25 mg). Enhanced cortisol suppression was found in the patients v. controls (P < 0.05) and the percentage of participant's with non-suppression was smaller in the patient (34%) than in the control group (89%) (P < 0.01). Baseline cortisol levels in the patients were also lower than in the controls (P < 0.05). The 0.25 mg dexamethasone suppression test reveals increased feedback inhibition of the HPA in borderline personality disorder.

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