Biomaterial Database

The clinical diagnostic value of dexamethasone suppression test in depressive illness. 1985

H G Hwu, and T Y Chen, and Y Y Yang

Dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was done for Chinese melancholics. The overall sensitivity of DST is 41.0%, and its specificity is 85%. The prevalence of abnormal DST is higher in inpatient melancholics (66.7%) than in outpatient melancholics (7.1%). Three schizophrenic patients who had abnormal DST were found to have severe degree of depression and impaired social function. The clinical diagnostic value of DST for severely impaired inpatient was tested. 35.7% of primary depressives (28 cases) had abnormal DST. 50% of secondary depressives (26 cases) had abnormal DST. 11 cases (50%) of 22 initially admitted, undiagnosed cases were found to have abnormal DST. 5 (45.5%) of these 11 cases were of primary depressives. 6 (54.5%) of these were of secondary depressives. DST was found to be of limited value in differential diagnosis for inpatient undiagnosed cases. Yet, DST could be a powerful research tool in psychopathology.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003866	Depressive Disorder	An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent.	Depression, Endogenous,Depression, Neurotic,Depression, Unipolar,Depressive Syndrome,Melancholia,Neurosis, Depressive,Unipolar Depression,Depressions, Endogenous,Depressions, Neurotic,Depressions, Unipolar,Depressive Disorders,Depressive Neuroses,Depressive Neurosis,Depressive Syndromes,Disorder, Depressive,Disorders, Depressive,Endogenous Depression,Endogenous Depressions,Melancholias,Neuroses, Depressive,Neurotic Depression,Neurotic Depressions,Syndrome, Depressive,Syndromes, Depressive,Unipolar Depressions
D003907	Dexamethasone	An anti-inflammatory 9-fluoro-glucocorticoid.	Hexadecadrol,Decaject,Decaject-L.A.,Decameth,Decaspray,Dexasone,Dexpak,Hexadrol,Maxidex,Methylfluorprednisolone,Millicorten,Oradexon,Decaject L.A.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001208	Asia	The largest of the continents. It was known to the Romans more specifically as what we know today as Asia Minor. The name comes from at least two possible sources: from the Assyrian asu (to rise) or from the Sanskrit usa (dawn), both with reference to its being the land of the rising sun, i.e., eastern as opposed to Europe, to the west. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p82 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p34)