Biomedical subjects

D Stangl

Publications and source records attributed to D Stangl.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Four definitions of endogenous depression and the dexamethasone suppression test.

We examined the relationship between the DST and 4 definitions of endogenous depression: DSM-III, Feinberg and Carroll, Newcastle and RDC. Endogenous patients had a significantly higher rate of nonsuppression than nonendogenous patients according to the DSM-III and Newcastle definitions but not according to the RDC and Feinberg and Carroll criteria. Moreover, the relationship between the DST and the DSM-III and Newcastle definitions was significant even after individually controlling for age, psychosis and weight loss. We review the literature on the relationship between the DST and the RDC definition of endogenous depression and suggest that interstudy differences in criteria application may be partially responsible for the inconsistent results across studies.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship between age and post-dexamethasone cortisol: a test of three hypotheses.

Previous studies report that DST nonsuppressors are older than normal suppressors. Data are presented on 188 primary unipolar major depressive inpatients and 35 healthy controls. In males, age appeared to correlate positively with post-dexamethasone cortisols in depressed patients and normal controls, although mean levels were higher in depressives. Female controls showed no consistent relationship between age and post-dexamethasone cortisol. A positive relationship did exist for depressed women. However, the association disappeared when age-of-onset was entered into the model, suggesting that in females early onset may identify a subtype of depression with normal DST suppression.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Validity of an operational definition for neurotic unipolar major depression.

After we reviewed the literature to identify the clinical and phenomenologic correlates of neurotic depression, we constructed a 6-item operational definition to distinguish neurotic unipolar major depressive disorder from non-neurotic major depression. The neurotic depressives were characterized by a low rate of abnormal dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results and a strong family history of alcoholism. Neurotic depressives improved less than non-neurotic depressives during the index hospitalization, and were more frequently rehospitalized during a 6-month prospective follow-up. Neurotic subtyping was significantly negatively associated with DSM-III melancholia. Neurotic classification remained significantly associated with the above validating variables after melancholic status was held constant, whereas melancholic subtyping did not predict DST results, familial alcoholism rates, or outcome when neurotic status was controlled.

Depressive Disorder↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Past loss as a symptom formation factor in depression.

We examined the relationship between past loss and endogenous subtyping of depressed patients. In a sample of 124 female depressed inpatients there was no association between past loss and RDC endogenous or DSM-III melancholic subtyping. We thus failed to replicate Brown and colleagues' finding that past loss is a symptom formation factor.

Depressive Disorder↗