The dexamethasone suppression test and the Children's Depression Inventory in psychiatric disorders in children

This open study attempts to evaluate the usefulness of objective diagnostic tests in the child and adolescent age group. Fifty-eight children admitted to a Child and Adolescent Psychiatric service were administered the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) or both. Rates of DST non-suppression were significantly elevated in children with major affective disorders (10/12) and in children suffering from adjustment disorders (3/18). Children with major depressions and conduct disorders both showed elevated scores on the CDI (p less than 0.025), and these two groups did not significantly differ from each other on this measure. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed.