Can disulfiram potentiate the dexamethasone suppression test in depressive patients?
Author(s): Bergsholm P, Oulie D, Holsten F, Myking O Affiliation(s): Department of Psychiatry, Central Hospital of Sogn og Fjordane, Forde Norway. Publication date & source: 1993-08, J Affect Disord., 28(4):241-7. Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial Transient DST non-suppression during disulfiram-treatment was fortuitously observed in a depressed patient. A disulfiram-potentiated DST (DSTd) was constructed by giving 800 mg disulfiram on the dexamethasone and postdexamethasone days. DST and DSTd were compared intraindividually in 21 patients and 14 controls. Disulfiram-potentiation was significant 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 during marked improvement or long-term recovery, and not in accurately screened controls. DSTd was significantly correlated with depression ratings, whereas DST was not
