ABSTRACT
There has been considerable interest in the utility of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) as a possible laboratory aid in the diagnosis of melancholia. An abnormal response—early escape of plasma Cortisol concentrations after an overnight dose of synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone—has been reported by Carroll (1985) to be a selective indicator for major depression. Approximately 50–65% of depressive patients fail to suppress plasma Cortisol adequately after an oral intake of 1 mg of dexamethasone.
