The influence of weight loss on the dexamethasone suppression test

To evaluate the influence of weight loss on the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), we studied 61 patients with major depressive disorder as defined by the Research Diagnostic Criteria, 59 healthy normal volunteers, and 16 volunteers who lost weight by dieting. Nonsuppression on the DST was not correlated to weight loss in the depressed patients. Of the healthy volunteers, 12.5% converted to nonsuppression status. This conversion rate is not significantly different from nonsuppression rates in the normal population. Implications of these findings are discussed.