Discrimination between Schizophrenic and Control Subjects by Means of Plasma Dehydroepiandrosterone Measurements

Erb, Judith L.; Kadane, Joseph B.; Tourney, Garfield; Mickelsen, Richard; Trader, David; Szabo, Rose; Davis, Vernice

doi:10.1210/jcem-52-2-181

Cited by 37 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…More recent studies, arguably more accurate (due to improved methodological techniques), have reported elevated plasma levels of DHEA and DHEAS in severely psychotic male subjects (Howard, 1992), medicated patients with chronic schizophrenia (Oades and Schepker, 1994;di Michele et al, 2005) and in nonmedicated first-episode patients compared to controls. Abnormal plasma diurnal rhythms of DHEA, but not DHEAS, were observed in schizophrenia such that patients were distinguished from controls with 100% accuracy (Erb et al, 1981). It has been suggested that cortisol/DHEA or cortisol/DHEAS ratios may be more appropriate measures than DHEA or DHEAS alone (Hechter et al, 1997), and elevated ratios of cortisol/DHEA and cortisol/DHEAS have also been reported in schizophrenics compared to controls (Ritsner et al, 2004).…”

Section: Neuroactive Steroids In Schizophreniamentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relevance of Neuroactive Steroids in Schizophrenia, Depression, and Anxiety Disorders

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. Neuroactive steroids are steroid hormones that exert rapid, nongenomic effects at ligand-gated ion channels. There is increasing awareness of the possible role of these steroids in the pathology and manifestation of symptoms of psychiatric disorders. The aim of this paper is to review the current knowledge of neuroactive steroid functioning in the central nervous system, and to assess the role of neuroactive steroids in the pathophysiology and treatment of symptoms of schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety disorders. Particular emphasis will be placed on GABAA receptor modulation, given the extensive knowledge of the interactions between this receptor complex, neuroactive steroids, and psychiatric illness. 2. A brief description of neuroactive steroid metabolism is followed by a discussion of the interactions of neuroactive steroids with acute and chronic stress and the HPA axis. Preclinical and clinical studies related to psychiatric disorders that have been conducted on neuroactive steroids are also described. 3. Plasma concentrations of some neuroactive steroids are altered in individuals suffering from schizophrenia, depression, or anxiety disorders compared to values in healthy controls. Some drugs used to treat these disorders have been reported to alter plasma and brain concentrations in clinical and preclinical studies, respectively. 4. Further research is warranted into the role of neuroactive steroids in the pathophysiology of psychiatric illnesses and the possible role of these steroids in the successful treatment of these disorders.

show abstract

Section: Neuroactive Steroids In Schizophreniamentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relevance of Neuroactive Steroids in Schizophrenia, Depression, and Anxiety Disorders

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Previous studies investigating DHEA blood levels in concentrations in psychosis or schizophrenia have demonstrated low DHEA levels (Tourney and Hatfield, 1972;Oertel et al, 1974;Harris et al, 2001) observed by some particularly in the morning (Tourney and Erb, 1979), abnormal DHEA diurnal rhythms (Erb et al, 1981), and no differences in DHEA levels (Brophy et al, 1983;Ritsner et al, 2004) compared to matched healthy controls. DHEAS levels have been reported to possibly be elevated (Oades and Schepker, 1994;Strous et al, 2004) and no different (Ritsner et al, 2004) in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Cortisol/Dehydroepiandrosterone Ratio and Responses to Antipsychotic Treatment in Schizophrenia

Ritsner

Gibel

Maayan

et al. 2005

Neuropsychopharmacol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or their sulfate conjugate (DHEAS) (together abbreviated DHEA(S)) exert multiple effects in the central nervous system, and may be involved in the pathophysiological processes in schizophrenia. This prospective study aimed to investigate whether serum cortisol/DHEA(S) molar ratios are associated with response to antipsychotic treatment during the exacerbation of schizophrenia. Serum DHEA(S) and cortisol were determined at baseline, and 2 and 4 weeks later for 43 medicated schizophrenia inpatients with acute exacerbation. The patients were treated with stable doses of antipsychotic agents up to 2 weeks prior to entering the study and for the 4-week duration of the study after which they were classified as either responders or nonresponders to treatment. Findings suggest that responders had significantly higher serum cortisol levels and cortisol/DHEA(S) ratios compared with nonresponders. These differences remained significant at three time points controlling for gender, age, severity of symptoms and emotional distress, benzodiazepines, type or dosage of antipsychotic agents, and background variables. The logistic regression model shows advantages of both cortisol/DHEA(S) molar ratios vs serum cortisol and DHEA(S) concentrations for prediction of responsivity to antipsychotic treatment. No significant canonical correlations were observed between changes from baseline through end-of-study in hormonal values and severity of symptoms and emotional distress among responders and nonresponders. Thus, these data provide evidence that elevated serum cortisol and cortisol/DHEA(S) ratios may serve as markers of biological mechanisms that are involved in responsivity of schizophrenia patients to antipsychotic treatment.

show abstract

“…As to the circadian rhythm of cortisol, it has been more frequently investigated [Franzen, 1971;Adadevoh and Asuni, 1973;Erb et al, 1981], but with very incon sistent results.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

24-Hour Plasma Levels of Prolactin, Cortisol, Growth Hormone and Catecholamines in Schizophrenic Patients

et al. 1985

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The 24-hour pattern of prolactin, cortisol and growth hormone (GH) secretion, and the diurnal variations of plasma catecholamine levels, were tested in a sample of DSM III schizophrenics and in a control population of patients hospitalized in the same ward and diagnosed as suffering from neurotic disorders. All subjects were acclimated to the ward and kept free from any drug for at least 2 weeks. No difference between schizophrenics and controls was observed with respect to the 24-hour profile of plasma prolactin and cortisol levels. The nocturnal peak of GH secretion was absent in 10 out of the 23 schizophrenics. These patients did not differ from the other schizophrenics with respect to the mean scores on any item of the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale. The mean plasma noradrenaline levels were significantly higher in schizophrenics than in controls during the wake period, but not during the sleep hours. A consistent decrease of the amine levels during the sleep period was observed in both groups. Since the nocturnal surge of plasma GH concentration has been associated with slow-wave sleep, which has been reported to be reduced in schizophrenic patients, the possibility is considered that this abnormality of sleep pattern can explain the alteration of GH release in schizophrenics. On the other hand, findings concerning plasma noradrenaline are interpreted as an indication that the state of increased autonomic arousal of schizophrenic patients is closely linked to daytime social interaction.

show abstract

Discrimination between Schizophrenic and Control Subjects by Means of Plasma Dehydroepiandrosterone Measurements

Cited by 37 publications

References 8 publications

The Relevance of Neuroactive Steroids in Schizophrenia, Depression, and Anxiety Disorders

The Relevance of Neuroactive Steroids in Schizophrenia, Depression, and Anxiety Disorders

Cortisol/Dehydroepiandrosterone Ratio and Responses to Antipsychotic Treatment in Schizophrenia

24-Hour Plasma Levels of Prolactin, Cortisol, Growth Hormone and Catecholamines in Schizophrenic Patients

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About