Relationship of dysfunctional attitudes and dexamethasone response in endogenous and nonendogenous depression.

Taken as a whole the data presented provide support for Klein's conceptualization of etiologically distinct subtypes of depression. A basic limbic system derangement in endogenous depression is suggested by the higher incidence of DST nonsuppression. Beck's theory that all depressions result from a primary cognitive dysfunction was not supported. However, the data do suggest dysfunctional attitudes, while present in both nonendogenous and endogenous depressions, may play an etiologically more relevant role in the nonendogenous group.