The dexamethasone suppression test in depressive illness: Clinical correlates

Clinical correlates of endogenous depression which may be associated with dexamethasone resistance have been evaluated by many investigators and found to be inconclusive. The authors investigated in 40 endogenously depressed patients the relationship of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and various clinical correlates - SADS scales, Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) depressive subtypes, family history from the FHRDC, responsivity to antidepressant treatment, etc. Dexamethasone resistance was found to be significantly associated with psychotic and bipolar depression but unrelated to the other clinical correlates examined. These findings are limited to the 2 mg DST; clinical correlates associated with non-suppression to dexamethasone may be related to the dose of dexamethasone.