The dexamethasone suppression test as a monitor of clinical recovery

To evaluate the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) as an aid in monitoring clinical recovery, the authors evaluated 127 outpatients with major depression who received the DST during depression and after clinical recovery. Although DST response varied among the 73 patients who met the Research Diagnostic Criteria for definite endogenous depression, their mean postdexamethasone plasma cortisol level was significantly higher during depression than after recovery. However, the DST's utility in monitoring long-term outcome was not great, as there was a high chance of remaining stable for 6 months after recovery regardless of cortisol value during depression or after recovery.