Altered salivary dehydroepiandrosterone levels in major depression in adults.
BACKGROUND
The authors sought to examine whether levels of dehydroepiandrosterone are abnormal in depression.


METHODS
Three groups of subjects aged 20-64 were studied: 44 major depressives, 35 subjects with partially or completely remitted depression, matched as far as possible for age and drug treatment, and 41 normal control subjects. Dehydroepiandrosterone and cortisol in saliva were determined from specimens taken at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM on 4 days.


RESULTS
The mean age of the three groups did not differ. Dehydroepiandrosterone was lowered at 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM compared with control subjects. Values for the remitted group were intermediate. Dehydroepiandrosterone levels at 8:00 AM correlated negatively with severity of depression and were not related to drug treatment or smoking, but decreased with age (as expected). Cortisol was elevated in depression in the evening. The molar cortisol/dehydroepiandrosterone ratio also differentiated those with depression from the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Lowered dehydroepiandrosterone levels are an additional state abnormality in adult depression. Adrenal steroid changes are thus not limited to cortisol. Because dehydroepiandrosterone may antagonize some effects of cortisol and may have mood improving properties, these findings may have significant implications for the pathophysiology of depression.
Michael
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Jenaway
A
A
Paykel
E S
ES
Herbert
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone