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.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 72(13): 1076-1079
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9993 PMID: 1741660 Document Number: 368943
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.