Depression, weight loss and the dexamethasone suppression test.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Endocrinology

Background:

• The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is used to assess hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function.
• Depressive disorders are often associated with HPA axis dysregulation.
• The role of weight loss as a predictor of abnormal DST results in depression is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between weight loss and DST results in patients with major depressive disorder.
• To determine if weight loss is a necessary condition for an abnormal DST in depression.

Main Methods:

• Administered the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) to 143 patients with major depressive disorder.
• Classified patients into groups with and without a history of weight loss.
• Analyzed DST results in relation to weight loss status and lithium therapy.

Main Results:

• 73% of patients with weight loss and 61% without had abnormal DST results.
• The difference in abnormal DST rates between groups was not statistically significant.
• Weight did not significantly change in patients whose DST status altered during lithium therapy.

Conclusions:

• Weight loss is not a necessary predictor of an abnormal DST in major depressive disorder.
• Abnormal DST results can occur in depressed patients irrespective of weight loss.
• Further research is needed to understand the complex HPA axis dysregulation in depression.