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Abnormal Dexamethasone Suppression Test in Normal Females

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Tore Hällström ,
Sverker Samuelsson ,
Jan Balldin ,
Jan Wålinder ,
Calle Bengtsson ,
Ernst Nyström ,
Björn Andersch ,
Göran Lindstedt  and
Per-Arne Lundberg
Tore Hällström
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Sahlgren's Hospital, University of Göteborg, S-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden
Sverker Samuelsson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Sahlgren's Hospital
Jan Balldin
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, St Jörgen's Hospital, University of Göteborg, S-422 03 Hisings Backa, Sweden
Jan Wålinder
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry and Medical Superintendent, St Jörgen's Hospital
Calle Bengtsson
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine II, Sahlgren's Hospital
Ernst Nyström
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine II, Sahlgren's Hospital
Björn Andersch
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Hospital, University of Göteborg, S-416 85 Göteborg, Sweden
Göran Lindstedt
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgren's Hospital
Per-Arne Lundberg
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgren's Hospital
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Summary

Eighty women taking part in a population study were subjected to a dexamethasone suppression test (DST) intended as a diagnostic aid for melancholia. The women were selected systematically from two age strata, 38 and 50 years. Fifteen subjects (19 per cent) were found to be non-suppressors. High post-dexamethasone serum Cortisol concentrations were not the result of elevated concentrations of the main Cortisol binder, transcortin. There were no differences between suppressors and non-suppressors as regards depressive symptoms, strain experience, body mass, gynaecological history, drug use, smoking, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, number of leucocytes, activity of serum aminotransferases and γ-glutamyltransferase, serum iron, bilirubin, ferritin content, serum growth hormone or serum prolactin. However, the non-suppressors reported a significantly lower (P <0.01) orgasmic capacity in a questionnaire inquiry about two weeks before the DST. The outcome of the study indicates that DST as the presently recommended procedure for out-patients has a lower specificity for melancholia than has been reported previously.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 142 , Issue 5 , May 1983 , pp. 489 - 497
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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