Posted by SLS on July 5, 2009, at 6:03:52
In reply to Re: Going back to old-school - lithium. » SLS, posted by Phillipa on July 4, 2009, at 23:51:25
> Scott just home but what is DST? know you're sleeping. Love Phillipa
DST = dexamethasone suppression test
If you give a healthy person dexamethasone, it turns off the production of cortisol (suppressors), which is measurable in the blood. If a person does not react to dexamethasone this way (non-suppressors), it indicates that something is wrong. It is used to diagnose Cushings Disease, a condition where the body produces too much cortisol. Cortisol is secreted by the adrenal cortex, not the adrenal medulla where adrenalin is secreted.
It was found that a major portion of people seeking treatment for depression are DST non-suppressors. This test was used frequently in the 1980s. Because it doesn't "catch" all cases, it is not considered valid anymore. It is my guess that the DST is selective for certain subtypes of depression and bipolar depression. I think it might be useful to help diagnose, however, it would be only to confirm certain presentations. It might not work for atypical depression without psychomotor retardation. I haven't followed it for a long time.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:904699
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090630/msgs/905037.html