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The Dexamethasone Suppression Test in Anorexia Nervosa the Influence of Weight, Depression, Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone and Dexamethasone

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Isaac Schweitzer ,
George I. Szmukler ,
Kay P. Maguire ,
Leonard C. Harrison ,
Virginia Tuckwell  and
Brian M. Davies
Isaac Schweitzer*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Clinical Sciences Building, C/- PO, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia, 3050
George I. Szmukler
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne
Kay P. Maguire
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne
Leonard C. Harrison
Affiliation:
Burnet Clinical Research Unit, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne
Virginia Tuckwell
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne
Brian M. Davies
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

When 20 female anorexic in-patients were investigated with weekly DSTs, 10 had an abnormal result at initial testing. There was no identifiable relationship between severity of weight loss and DST status; % ideal body weight was no different between suppressors and non-suppressors. There was no consistent relationship between normalisation of the DST response and weight gain. Depressive symptoms were common, with half the patients scoring 20 or more on the HRSD. Plasma ACTH concentrations before and after the DST were normal. There was a significant negative correlation between plasma dexamethasone concentrations and pre- and post-dexamethasone plasma Cortisol concentrations.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 157 , Issue 5 , November 1990 , pp. 713 - 717
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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