A relationship between prolactin levels and dexamethasone suppression test results in major depressive disorder

Fifteen patients with a major depressive disorder and 20 control subjects have completed a 1 mg Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) and on a separate day have had their prolactin and cortisol levels measured at 16.00 h. Among the depressed patients there was a significant positive correlation between the DST cortisol and the prolactin level, with abnormally elevated prolactin levels occurring in those depressed patients with very high DST cortisol (greater than 400 nmol/l) levels.