CAN DISULFIRAM POTENTIATE THE DEXAMETHASONE SUPPRESSION TEST IN DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS

Transient DST non-suppression during disulfiram-treatment was fortuito usly observed in a depressed patient. A disulfiram-potentiated DST (DS Td) was constructed by giving 800 mg disulfiram on the dexamethasone a nd postdexamethasone days. DST and DSTd were compared intraindividuall y in 21 patients and 14 controls. Disulfiram-potentiation was signific ant in constantly depressed patients, and in questionable controls due to possible subclinical depression or somatic factors which may cause 'false-positive' results. It did not occur in depressed patients duri ng marked improvement or long-term recovery, and not in accurately scr eened controls. DSTd was significantly correlated with depression rati ngs, whereas DST was not.