Utility of the dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of poststroke depression.

Grober, S E; Gordon, W A; Sliwinski, M J; Hibbard, M R; Aletta, E G; Paddison, P L · Arch Phys Med Rehabil · 1991

cross_sectional · Level IV

Where this comes from

Abstract

The utility of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in the diagnosis of depression was examined in an outpatient sample of 29 stroke patients. Results indicated that the DST's sensitivity was 15%, its specificity was 67%, and its positive predictive value was 48%. These findings suggest that the DST yields no more information than would be gained from random assignment of the diagnosis of depression. Therefore, it is not a useful measure of mood in these patients.

Medical subject headings