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Dexamethasone suppression test in dementia
Author(s) -
AbouSaleh M. T.,
Spalding E. M.,
Kellett J. M.,
Coppen A.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930020108
Subject(s) - dexamethasone suppression test , dementia , medicine , atrophy , dexamethasone , psychology , cardiology , pediatrics , disease
The performance of the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) was investigated in 60 demented patients including 14 patients admitted to a psychogeriatric assessment ward, 29 electively admitted patients and 17 long‐stay patients in comparison with 37 normal control subjects. It was shown that acutely admitted patients had the highest rate of DST non‐suppression (86%), whilst electively admitted patients had the lowest rate (55%) in comparison with normal controls (11%). In the electively admitted group abnormal DST results and Cortisol Suppression Index and DST non‐suppressors showed depressive signs more frequently than suppressors. There was no association between DST results and age, weight, cognitive, behavioural, cortical dysfunction and degree of cerebral atrophy as determined by CT scan results.