Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment of depression.
Biol Psychiatry
; 41(3): 311-8, 1997 Feb 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9024954
ABSTRACT
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate, DHEA-S, are plentiful adrenal steroid hormones that decrease with aging and may have significant neuropsychiatric effects. In this study, six middle-aged and elderly patients with major depression and low basal plasma DHEA f1p4or DHEA-S levels were openly administered DHEA (30-90 mg/d x 4 weeks) in doses sufficient to achieve circulating plasma levels observed in younger healthy individuals. Depression ratings, as well as aspects of memory performance significantly improved. One treatment-resistant patient received extended treatment with DHEA for 6 months her depression ratings improved 48-72% and her semantic memory performance improved 63%. These measures returned to baseline after treatment ended. In both studies, improvements in depression ratings and memory performance were directly related to increases in plasma levels of DHEA and DHEA-S and to increases in their ratios with plasma cortisol levels. These preliminary data suggest DHEA may have antidepressant and promemory effects and should encourage double-blind trials in depressed patients.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Desidroepiandrosterona
/
Transtorno Depressivo
/
Antidepressivos
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
Limite:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
1997
Tipo de documento:
Article