Am J Psychiatry 1984; 141:1445-1448
Copyright © 1984 by American Psychiatric Association
The dexamethasone suppression test and depressive symptoms in early and late withdrawal from alcohol
SD Ravi, W Dorus, YN Park, MC Collins, RW Reid and GF Borge
Results of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in 30 alcoholic
patients tested on day 5 and again on day 25 after their last drink are
presented. Nineteen patients (63%) failed to suppress cortisol on day 5;
three (11%) failed to suppress cortisol on day 25. Depressive symptoms,
measured by the Beck Depression Inventory, were significantly correlated
with DST results; the lifetime diagnosis of depressive illness was not. The
authors conclude that the DST is not useful in detecting primary affective
disorders during the early phase of withdrawal from alcohol.
