C. Massoubre et al., Are depression and denutrition good predictors of dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in anorexia nervosa?, EUR PSYCHIA, 13(8), 1998, pp. 411-418
This study was conducted to investigate the corticotropic axis in anorexia
nervosa. In 93 female inpatients who met DSM-III-R criteria for anorexia ne
rvosa, subsample (n = 64) with DSM-III criteria was also considered. Using
stepwise regression analysis, this study examined the relationship between
independent variables ie, age, body mass index, scores on depression scales
and postdexamethasone serum cortisol, considered as a dependent variable.
In patients who met DSM III criteria,16.7% of the variance of serum cortiso
l can be explained. The main predictors are depressive retardation, emaciat
ion and age. Using stepwise logistic regression the main categorical predic
tors of the test suppression vs non suppression are of the same nature. The
condition of realisation of DST are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier, Paris.