DST Studies in Psychotic Depression: A Meta-Analysis
American Journal of PsychiatryPublished 1 November 1997
J. Craig Nelson, J M Davis
Citations351
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score5.27
SNIP3.68
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TL;DR
Among patients with major depression, psychotic depression is the subtype that is most closely associated with nonsuppression of cortisol on the DST, andHypercortisolemia is usually present in psychotic depression and may be important in understanding the pathophysiology of this syndrome.
Abstract
Among patients with major depression, psychotic depression is the subtype that is most closely associated with nonsuppression of cortisol on the DST. Hypercortisolemia is usually present in psychotic depression and may be important in understanding the pathophysiology of this syndrome.
Keywords
MedicineNeuroscience
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