Year: 1989 Source: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, v.79, no.5, (May 1989), p.276-282 SIEC No: 19900113

The authors examinedcovariations between results of the dexamthasone suppression test (DST) & suicidal behavior for 44 attempted suicide patients. The suicide methods, diagnoses & time factors were controlled for. Despite hypotheses suggesting the contrary, no significant relationship between DST results & suicide attempts was found. Sensitivity of DST with suicide attempts was 52% in patients with diagnosis of endogenous depression. DST is not a predictor of suicide in the depressed. (CM)