Clinical utilization of the dexamethasone suppression test in an inpatient setting.

In 100 consecutive admissions to an inpatient psychiatric ward, results of the dexamethasone suppression test significantly influenced both treatment and discharge diagnosis. In contrast, MMPI results had no such effect. A positive DST correlated with a diagnosis of, and biologic treatment for, major affective disorder. A negative DST correlated with other diagnoses and the use of nonbiologic treatments, but may have been used incorrectly as evidence against the existence of an affective disorder.