The dexamethasone suppression test in outpatients with primary affective disorder and healthy control subjects

Abstract

Data is reported on the overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST) from 64 patients with primary affective disorder (41 unipolar, 17 bipolar-depressed and 6 bipolar-hypomanic) and 53 healthy control subjects. No difference between the patients and controls was noted in baseline 0800 h serum cortisol levels or in cortisol levels obtained after the administration of 1 mg of dexamethasone. Sixteen patients and 8 controls had 1600 h postdexamethasone cortisol levels higher than 5.0 .mu.g/dl. The distribution of suppressors and nonsuppressors did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Patient nonsuppressors had significantly higher baseline cortisol levels than did patient suppressors (P < 0.001). Clinical parameters and family history data did not distinguish patient suppressors from nonsuppressors.