Individuals who do not show a decrease in cortisol levels in response to an injection of dexamethasone ________
A) have a severe form of depression.
B) are likely to be suffering from both major depression and a personality disorder.
C) will not respond well to pharmacological treatment.
D) have an HPA axis that is not functioning normally.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Individuals who do not show a decrease in cortisol levels in response to an injection of dexamethasone have a condition called dexamethasone non-suppression, which suggests that their HPA axis is not functioning normally. This abnormality is associated with various conditions, including depression, but it is not specific to depression and does not necessarily indicate the severity of depression. Furthermore, the non-suppression pattern does not predict pharmacological treatment response or indicate the presence of a personality disorder.

Individuals Who Do Not Show a Decrease in Cortisol Levels