Depression, Weight Loss and the Dexamethasone Suppression Test

1984 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alec Coppen ◽  
Janet Harwood ◽  
Keith Wood
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

SummaryThe dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was carried out on 143 patients with a major depressive disorder, who were classified into those with a history of weight loss (n = 89) and those without (n = 54). Seventy-three per cent of patients with weight loss and 61% of patients without had an abnormal DST; this difference was not statistically significant. Of the patients receiving prophylactic lithium therapy, 13 were found to have changed their DST status on retesting after a period of 14 months, but there was no significant difference in their weight. It is concluded that weight loss is not a necessary condition for an abnormal DST in depressive illness.

Dexamethasone Suppression Test and REM Sleep in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

1984 ◽  
Vol 145 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Mendlewicz ◽  
Myriam Kerkhofs ◽  
Guy Hoffmann ◽  
Paul Linkowski
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Rem Latency ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression ◽  
Normal Controls

SummaryDexamethasone suppression Test (DST) and sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were carried out during three consecutive nights in 39 depressed patients who met Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) for major depressive disorder and in nine normal controls. Cortisol response to DST was abnormal in 26 patients and normal in all controls. REM latency and REM density were compared in patients with abnormal DST (n = 26) to values obtained in patients with normal DST (n = 13) and in normal controls (n = 9). Rapid Eye Movement (REM) latencies were significantly lower in depressed patients showing cortisol non-suppression after dexamethasone than in patients with a normal DST or in controls. REM densities were significantly higher in depressed patients than in normal controls (P <0.025), but there was no significant difference between DST suppressors and non–suppressors. The DST provided high specificity (100%) and a sensitivity of 67%, while REM latency showed a lower specificity (78%), but a higher sensitivity (85%).

The Effects of Weight Change on the Dexamethasone Suppression Test in Depressed and Anorexic Patients

1986 ◽  
Vol 149 (6) ◽  
pp. 751-755 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Schweitzer ◽  
K. P. Maguire ◽  
J. W. G. Tiller ◽  
A. H. Gee ◽  
L. C. Harrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Ideal Body Weight ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Hpa Axis Functioning ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

Prior studies on weight change and hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning are reviewed. Data on 58 depressed and eight anorexic patients is presented. No significant difference in the frequency of cortisol non-suppression in the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was found between depressed patients with a history of weight loss and those without, nor between depressed patients who lost weight during their first week in hospital and those who did not. Mean weight loss of suppressors did not significantly differ from that of non-suppressors. Of 12 patients whose DST normalised during their stay in hospital, only four gained weight. Five anorexics who were non-suppressors were <70% of their ideal body weight (IBW), while three suppressor anorexics were ≧70% IBW. These results indicate that mild to moderate weight change is not a significant influence on DST response in depression.

Dexamethasone Suppression Test in Depression and other Psychiatric Illness

1983 ◽  
Vol 142 (5) ◽  
pp. 498-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Coppen ◽  
M. Abou-Saleh ◽  
P. Milln ◽  
M. Metcalfe ◽  
J. Harwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Affective Disorders ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Abnormal Response ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression ◽  
Normal Controls

SummaryThe prevalence of an abnormal response to the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was examined in 119 in-patients suffering from a major depressive disorder and in 79 normal controls. Only 11 per cent of controls showed an abnormal DST as against 70 per cent of depressed patients. The specificity of the DST was examined by testing patients with other psychiatric disorders. Abnormal responses were found in one-fifth of a sample of schizophrenics, over one-quarter of abstinent alcoholics, two-fifths of neurotics (including neurotic depressives) and almost half of senile dements. Abnormal DST was also found in 33 per cent of patients receiving prophylactic lithium for recurrent affective disorders.

Performance of the Dexamethasone Suppression Test in Depressive Illness According to ICD and DSM-III Classification Systems

1988 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. 554-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Watkins ◽  
Brian Harris ◽  
Nigel Cook ◽  
Roger Thomas ◽  
Diana Riad-Fahmy
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Episode ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Classification Systems ◽  
Manic Depressive Illness ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Diagnostic Categories ◽  
Manic Depressive ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

The performance of the dexamethasone suppression test was assessed in 90 consecutive admissions with a diagnosis of depression, categorised according to two classification systems (DSM-III and ICD-9). Non-suppression was found in most of the diagnostic categories, but there was a highly significant association with the DSM-III classification ‘major depressive episode with melancholia’ (52%) in comparison with the ICD group ‘manic-depressive illness-depressed’ (29%).

Endocrine and behavioural responses to methylphenidate in depression

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 531-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Joyce ◽  
Richard A. Donald ◽  
M. Gary Nicholls ◽  
John H. Livesey ◽  
Robyn M. Abbott
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Cortisol Response ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Baseline Cortisol ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

SynopsisTwenty patients with a major depressive disorder and 20 control subjects were subjected to a 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and a challenge with intravenous (IV) methylphenidate (MP)(0·3 mg/kg). None of the controls, but 9 depressives, were DST non-suppressors. Among the depressives there were correlations between DST-cortisol and baseline (4 p.m.) levels of cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin and adrenaline. Compared with the controls the depressives had a decreased cortisol response and an enhanced adrenaline response to the MP challenge. The decreased cortisol response was not related to either DST-cortisol or baseline cortisol, but was correlated with the mood response to MP.

Cortisol Suppression Index in Major Depressive Illness

1984 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Diagnostic Confidence ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Acceptable Alternative ◽  
Late Evening ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Cortisol Suppression ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression ◽  
Suppression Index

This study compares the utility of a cortisol suppression index with the standard dexamethasone suppression test as a diagnostic aid for major depressive disorder. In 50 patients the cortisol suppression index was found to have similar sensitivity while also having greater specificity and diagnostic confidence than the dexamethasone suppression test. By avoiding the need for a late-evening blood sample, the cortisol suppression index may be an acceptable alternative to the current procedure.

Dexamethasone Suppression Test Reversal in Rapid Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Treated Depression

1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip D. Reid ◽  
Saxby Pridmore
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Past History ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression Test ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Suppression Test ◽  
Dexamethasone Suppression

Objective: The aim of this paper is to report the effect of rapid transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the mood and dexamethasone suppression test (DST) of a patient with major depressive disorder (DSM-IV). Clinical picture: A36-year-old woman with a past history of prolactinoma and recurrent major depressive disorder presented with major depression on three separate occasions over a 3-month period. DST was positive on each occasion. Treatment: During each episode, a course of rTMS was given. Courses varied from seven to 13 once-daily treatment sessions depending on clinical response. These treatment sessions were 20 trains of 10 Hz for 5 s at 100% of motor threshold. Outcome: Remission was achieved, psychiatric rating scales improved and the DST status converted from positive to negative. There were no side effects. Conclusion: DST status in major depressive disorder can be converted from positive to negative by rTMS. This so far unreported observation increases our knowledge of rTMS.

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