[Use of the dexamethasone test in the differential diagnosis of depressive states].

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) was conducted in 194 patients. Criteria of the DST estimation included the degree of suppression of 1-HOCS and the post-dexamethasone levels of HOCS. The results of the DST were correlated with the efficacy of the subsequent therapy. The test evidenced pathology in 79% of patients with the preliminary diagnosis of "endogenous depression" and in 94.5% of those patients of this group who were later successfully treated with antidepressants. In patients showing some response to anxiolytics the DST was abnormal in 40%. In 37 patients with anxiety depression the DST was combined with the diazepam test. The results permitted reliable differentiation between "endogenic depression with anxiety" and "endogenic anxiety with a depressive mood" and the prognosis. In cases of reactive depression the DST was abnormal only in 12% of patients. Both criteria of the DST assessment are compared, and the percentage of suppression is considered as preferable.