Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 1985 Jun 15;290(6484):1804-6.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.290.6484.1804.

Dexamethasone suppression test as a simple measure of stress?

G W Mellsop, J D Hutton, J W Delahunt

Dexamethasone suppression test as a simple measure of stress?

G W Mellsop et al. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). .

Abstract

Non-suppression of cortisol by dexamethasone has been described as a biological marker of a diagnostic subgroup of depressed patients. This paper presents the hypothesis that the degree of non-suppression is a variable that reflects the quantity of stress or distress experienced by the patient rather than relating to a specific diagnosis. Such a quantitative measure of stress would be valuable for research in general medicine as well as in psychiatry. Testing of this postulate should apply a more precise interpretation of endocrine principles than has been applied to the dexamethasone suppression test to date.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. J Affect Disord. 1982 Sep;4(3):201-11 - PubMed
    1. Br J Psychiatry. 1984 Oct;145:372-82 - PubMed
    1. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1982 Nov;39(11):1309-12 - PubMed
    1. Am J Psychiatry. 1983 Mar;140(3):338-41 - PubMed
    1. J Steroid Biochem. 1980 May;13(5):529-37 - PubMed

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources