Abstract
Fifty-four inpatients with a DSM-III diagnosis of schizophrenia were studied. Patients were divided into positive and negative subtypes of schizophrenia according to Andreasen's criteria. Blood samples were obtained from all patients for 2 consecutive days to determine plasma cortisol concentrations before and after a single administration (1 mg, p.o.) of dexamethasone at 11 p.m. The results revealed a significant increase in plasma cortisol levels in schizophrenic patients, with 40% of the patients being nonsuppressors on the dexamethasone suppression test. A higher percentage (62.5%) of patients with the negative form of schizophrenia were nonsuppressors.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 69-75 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Psychiatry Research |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1989 |
Keywords
- cortisol
- Dexamethasone suppression test
- negative symptoms
- schizophrenia
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
- Psychology(all)