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The dexamethasone suppression test in bulimia.

D C Lindy, B T Walsh, S P Roose

The American Journal of Psychiatry

|November 1, 1985

Summary

Bulimia nervosa patients may not suppress cortisol after dexamethasone. Nonsuppressors showed a higher frequency of major depression, suggesting a potential link between cortisol regulation and mood disorders in bulimia.

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Early response to antidepressant treatment in bulimia nervosa.

Psychological medicine·2010

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Psychiatry
Neuroscience

Background:

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder associated with various physiological abnormalities.
The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is used to assess hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate cortisol suppression response to dexamethasone in women with bulimia nervosa.
To explore the relationship between cortisol suppression and clinical variables, including major depression.

Main Methods:

Fifty-five women diagnosed with bulimia nervosa underwent the dexamethasone suppression test.
Cortisol levels were measured post-dexamethasone administration to assess suppression.
Clinical variables, including the presence of major depression, were assessed.

Main Results:

35% of women with bulimia nervosa failed to exhibit normal cortisol suppression after dexamethasone administration.
No statistically significant differences were found between suppressors and nonsuppressors across most clinical variables.
A higher frequency of major depression was observed among the nonsuppressor group.

Conclusions:

A subset of women with bulimia nervosa exhibits HPA axis dysregulation, indicated by failed cortisol suppression.
Impaired cortisol suppression may be associated with a higher prevalence of major depression in this population.
Further research is warranted to understand the neurobiological underpinnings of HPA axis dysfunction in bulimia nervosa and its comorbidity with mood disorders.

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