Lack of effects of hospitalization and oral contraceptives on DST results in control subjects

The effect of oral contraceptive use and hospitalization stress on the results of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) were assessed. This test, in which 1 mg dexamethasone is given at 11:00 p.m., and blood cortisol is analyzed the following day, is used as an indicator or major or endogenous depression, as opposed to situational depression, but specificity of the test remains in dispute. The test subjects were 15 normal volunteers, mostly staff, and 27 surgical patients, who were planning orthopedic surgery the following day. Of the 20 women, 7 took oral contraceptives, (Sequilar, Microgynon 50, Trigynon, Microgynon 30 and Diane). Cortisol was radioimmunoassayed at 4:00 p.m. in volunteers and at 8:00, 4:00 and 11:00 p.m. in hospital patients. Only 1 subject had a positive test (non-suppressor), a non oral contraceptive user, with a cut-off point of 50 mcg/L. The hospital patients' cortisol levels were slightly higher (n.s.). Pill users' cortisol levels were unchanged.