The strength distribution of high-energy [gamma ]-rays emitted in the statistical decay of the 1 5 6 Dy * compound nucleus, with E * = 92.5 MeV, has been measured inclusively and for selected decay pathways in which isomers in 1 4 9 Dy, 1 5 1 Dy and 1 5 2 Dy were populated. For both spectra a deformation [z.sfnc][beta ][z.sfnc] = 0.3 is deduced and the centroid energies agree with those found from ground-state systematics. The high-energy [gamma ]-ray spectrum triggered on isomeric decay shows an increase of the width of the GDR in comparison with the inclusive spectrum.