[Dexamethasone suppression test and the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia]

40 patients (26 males, 14 females), aged 18-50 years, with diagnosis of schizophrenia were studied before the treatment for recurrence of acute schizophrenic symptom was started. All patients had dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and BPRS and Hamilton Depression Scale tests. Initial cortisol plasma concentration correlated positively with the intensity of productive symptoms measured by BPRS. The cortisol plasma level measured 17 hour after dexamethasone administration correlated negatively with the global symptom intensity in the BPRS. Pathological DST results were observed in 14 patients (35%). These patients presented lower intensity of psychopathological symptoms in the BPRS as compared to the remaining patients. The intensity of depression measured by Hamilton Scale did not show correlation with DST results. We conclude that in the schizophrenic patients during acute phase of the disease, the intensity of psychopathologic symptoms (mainly productive symptoms) is related to increased activity of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-suprarenal axis which manifests itself with increased basal levels of plasma cortisol. Reactivity of this axis, with good suppression in the DST results seems to be normal. The intensity of depressive symptoms did not show significant relation to activity of the axis judging from DST results.