Hirschfeld R M, Koslow S H, Kupfer D J
JAMA. 1983 Oct 28;250(16):2172-4.
The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is being increasingly used in psychiatry, especially in the differential diagnosis of affective disorders. In light of this, the National Institute of Mental Health convened a workshop of clinical scientists drawn from neuroendocrinology, psychopathology, and general clinical psychiatry to review the evidence for the efficacy of the use of the DST in psychiatry. Specifically considered were DST's relevance to differential diagnosis, its use as a predictor of response to treatment, its relationship with other biologic variables, and technical issues. The panelists concluded that at this time there are no clear indications for routine use of the DST in diagnosis or clinical management of depression, although it is a useful research tool. Areas of potential utility include prediction of suicidal activity, prediction of relapse, and differential diagnosis.
地塞米松抑制试验（DST）在精神病学中的应用越来越广泛，尤其是在情感障碍的鉴别诊断中。鉴于此，美国国立精神卫生研究所召集了一个由神经内分泌学、精神病理学和普通临床精神病学领域的临床科学家组成的研讨会，以审查DST在精神病学中应用效果的证据。具体审议的内容包括DST与鉴别诊断的相关性、其作为治疗反应预测指标的用途、它与其他生物学变量的关系以及技术问题。小组成员得出结论，目前在抑郁症的诊断或临床管理中，没有明确迹象表明可常规使用DST，尽管它是一种有用的研究工具。潜在有用的领域包括自杀行为预测、复发预测和鉴别诊断。
