The dexamethasone suppression test in patients with alcoholism.

It is unknown whether the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) can be used to help identify patients with major depressive disorder if they have recently been abusing alcohol. We evaluated 38 male alcoholics with Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the standardized overnight 1-mg DST, administered after 3-4 weeks of detoxification. Eighty-two percent had a normal suppressive DST response. The DST may be useful in aiding identification of patients with a profile of major depressive disorder and continued depression after alcohol detoxification. The test might facilitate a rational selection of alcoholics who may benefit from antidepressants. However, the possibility of false positive results must be further investigated.