Dexamethasone suppression test and mood response to methylphenidate in primary depression.
Thirty-four patients who met Research Diagnostic Criteria for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder, primary subtype, were given the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and a methylphenidate challenge. The two tests divided the patients along the following lines: One group did not suppress cortisol and failed to respond to methylphenidate, while the other group did suppress cortisol and had a positive mood response to methylphenidate. In an open clinical trial, the former group responded preferentially to amitriptyline and the latter group responded preferentially to imipramine.