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

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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.