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The Dexamethasone Suppression Test in Bulimia Nervosa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

G. O'Brien ,
F. Hassanyeh ,
A. Leake ,
K. Schapira ,
M. White  and
I. N. Ferrier
G. O'Brien*
Affiliation:
Psychiatry of Mental Handicap, University Department of Psychiatry, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge
F. Hassanyeh
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne
A. Leake
Affiliation:
MRC Neuroendocrinology Unit, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
K. Schapira
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne
M. White
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
I. N. Ferrier
Affiliation:
MRC Neuroendocrinology Unit, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne
*
∗Ida Darwin Hospital, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB1 5EE
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Abstract

In a study of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in patients with bulimia nervosa, a non-suppression rate of about 50% was found. The only clinical correlates of DST non-suppression were a previous history of weight loss and/or of anorexia nervosa. These results suggest that DST non-suppression in these subjects may be a trait rather than a state marker of anorexia nervosa.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 152 , Issue 5 , May 1988 , pp. 654 - 656
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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