THE DEXAMETHASONE SUPPRESSION TEST AND FAMILIAL SUBTYPES OF DEPRESSION - A NATURALISTIC REPLICATION

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 17  (1) , 33-40
Abstract
A naturalistic design was used to replicate studies which validated the familial subtyping of primary depression. Inpatients (93) with unipolar depression had received the DST (dexamethasone suppression test) within 1 wk of admission and were free of confounding medical problems. A blind rater assigned diagnoses based on chart material recorded before DST results were known. The results supported the earlier conclusions of Schlesser. With 0800 h sampling, 53% of familial pure depressive disease patients and 14% of depression spectrum disease patients were nonsuppressors. Differences, though smaller, remained significant with multiple sampling. Only 1 of 24 patients with secondary depression had an abnormal DST. Patterns of nonsuppression among patients with psychotic features resembled those of the larger group.

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