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Der dexamethason-suppressions-test: Ein biologischer marker der endogenen depression?

The dexamethasone suppression test: A biological marker for endogenous depression?

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Summary

In the past few years there have been numerous publications, which have stressed the value of the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) as a diagnostic marker of endonous depression. Our own studies in 333 psychiatric inpatients and 121 healthy subjects did not reveal a differential diagnostic use for the DST. This result is in good agreement with recent results published in the literature. Our own data demonstrate, however, that intervening variables, such as severity of illness, weight loss, sleep disturbances, situational stress, drug and alcohol withdrawal and the pharmacokinetics of dexamethasone, have an important influence on the DST results, regardless of the diagnostic classification.

Zusammenfassung

In den letzten Jahren wurde in zahlreichen Publikationen der Dexamethason-Suppressions-Test (DST) als geeignetes Instrument zur Diagnostik endogener Depressionen dargestellt. Eigene Untersuchungen an 333 psychiatrischen Patienten und 121 gesunden Kontrollpersonen sprechen gegen eine differentialdiagnostische Wertigkeit des DST. Diese Aussage wird durch neuere Befunde anderer Arbeitsgruppen gestützt. Diagnoseunabhängige Variable wie Schweregrad der Erkrankung, Gewichtsverlust, Schlafstörungen, situativer Stress, Medikamenten- und Alkohol-Entzug sowie die Pharmakokinetik von Dexamethason scheinen entscheidend das Testergebnis zu beeinflussen.

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  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, München, Kraepelinstrasse 10, D-8000, München

    M. Berger

  2. Psychiatrische Klinik der Universität München, D-8000, München, Bundesrepublik Deutschland

    H. E. Klein

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Berger, M., Klein, H.E. Der dexamethason-suppressions-test: Ein biologischer marker der endogenen depression?. Eur Arch Psychiatr Neurol Sci 234, 137–146 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381220

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