BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Enhanced suppression of cortisol following dexamethasone administration in posttraumatic stress disorder. 1993

R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.

OBJECTIVE The authors investigated the possibility of enhanced negative feedback sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by using a low dose of dexamethasone. METHODS Baseline blood samples were obtained at 8:00 a.m., and 0.5 mg of dexamethasone was administered to 21 male patients with PTSD and 12 normal age-comparable men at 11:00 p.m. Cortisol and dexamethasone levels were measured 9 and 17 hours after dexamethasone administration. RESULTS After correction for differences in dexamethasone levels, the PTSD patients showed greater suppression of cortisol in response to dexamethasone than did the normal subjects. This was true even in patients meeting concurrent diagnostic criteria for major depression. CONCLUSIONS The data support earlier studies showing that HPA abnormalities in PTSD are different from those seen in depression and suggest that the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test may be a potentially useful tool for differentiating the two syndromes and further exploring differences in their pathophysiology.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007030 Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System A collection of NEURONS, tracts of NERVE FIBERS, endocrine tissue, and blood vessels in the HYPOTHALAMUS and the PITUITARY GLAND. This hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal circulation provides the mechanism for hypothalamic neuroendocrine (HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONES) regulation of pituitary function and the release of various PITUITARY HORMONES into the systemic circulation to maintain HOMEOSTASIS. Hypothalamic Hypophyseal System,Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis,Hypophyseal Portal System,Hypothalamic-Pituitary Unit,Hypothalamic Hypophyseal Systems,Hypothalamic Pituitary Unit,Hypothalamo Hypophyseal System,Hypothalamo Pituitary Adrenal Axis,Portal System, Hypophyseal
D008297 Male Males
D010913 Pituitary-Adrenal System The interactions between the anterior pituitary and adrenal glands, in which corticotropin (ACTH) stimulates the adrenal cortex and adrenal cortical hormones suppress the production of corticotropin by the anterior pituitary. Pituitary Adrenal System,Pituitary-Adrenal Systems,System, Pituitary-Adrenal,Systems, Pituitary-Adrenal
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.
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006854 Hydrocortisone The main glucocorticoid secreted by the ADRENAL CORTEX. Its synthetic counterpart is used, either as an injection or topically, in the treatment of inflammation, allergy, collagen diseases, asthma, adrenocortical deficiency, shock, and some neoplastic conditions. Cortef,Cortisol,Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, 11,17,21-trihydroxy-, (11beta)-,11-Epicortisol,Cortifair,Cortril,Epicortisol,Hydrocortisone, (11 alpha)-Isomer,Hydrocortisone, (9 beta,10 alpha,11 alpha)-Isomer,11 Epicortisol
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013313 Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic A class of traumatic stress disorders with symptoms that last more than one month. Moral Injury,Neuroses, Post-Traumatic,PTSD,Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders,Acute Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Delayed Onset Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Neuroses, Posttraumatic,Posttraumatic Stress Disorders,Stress Disorder, Post Traumatic,Stress Disorders, Posttraumatic,Acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,Delayed Onset Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,Injury, Moral,Moral Injuries,Neuroses, Post Traumatic,Post Traumatic Stress Disorders,Post-Traumatic Neuroses,Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Posttraumatic Neuroses,Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,Stress Disorder, Post-Traumatic,Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic

Related Publications

R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Enhanced cortisol suppression in response to dexamethasone administration in traumatized veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder.
April 2007, Psychoneuroendocrinology,
R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Enhanced cortisol suppression following dexamethasone administration in domestic violence survivors.
June 2005, The American journal of psychiatry,
R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Increased adrenocorticotropin suppression following dexamethasone administration in sexually abused adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder.
November 2004, Psychoneuroendocrinology,
R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Cortisol suppression by dexamethasone reduces exaggerated fear responses in posttraumatic stress disorder.
November 2011, Psychoneuroendocrinology,
R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Enhanced cortisol suppression following administration of low-dose dexamethasone in first-episode psychosis patients.
April 2013, The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry,
R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Increased adrenocorticotropin suppression after dexamethasone administration in sexually abused adolescents with posttraumatic stress disorder.
December 2004, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,
R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Dexamethasone suppression test in borderline personality disorder--effects of posttraumatic stress disorder.
October 2005, Psychoneuroendocrinology,
R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Neopterin levels and dexamethasone suppression test in posttraumatic stress disorder.
August 2002, European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience,
R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Dexamethasone-suppressed cortisol awakening response predicts treatment outcome in posttraumatic stress disorder.
September 2015, Journal of affective disorders,
R Yehuda, and S M Southwick, and J H Krystal, and D Bremner, and D S Charney, and J W Mason
Dose-response changes in plasma cortisol and lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptors following dexamethasone administration in combat veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder.
July 1995, Archives of general psychiatry,
Copied contents to your clipboard!