Endogenous concentrations of DHEA and DHEA-S decrease with remission of depression in older adults.
BACKGROUND
Clinical studies of endogenous concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated conjugate DHEA-S in depression are limited. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of successful pharmacological treatment of late-life depression on concentrations of DHEA, DHEA-S and cortisol.


METHODS
We determined endogenous concentrations of DHEA, DHEA-S and cortisol in elderly control subjects (n = 16) and in elderly depressed patients who remitted (n = 44) or failed to remit (n = 16) with pharmacological treatment. Depressed patients were treated for 12 weeks with either nortriptyline or paroxetine.


RESULTS
In remitters, DHEA and DHEA-S concentrations were lower at week 12 than at week 0 (p =.002 and p =.0001, respectively). In the nonremitters and control subjects, neither DHEA nor DHEA-S concentrations changed. Decreases in hormone concentrations were associated with improvement in mood and functioning in depressed patients. Although cortisol concentrations decreased in remitters and nonremitters, the change was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the decrease in DHEA and DHEA-S in remitters is related to remission of depression rather than to a direct drug effect on steroids, as nonremitters had no change in hormone concentrations.
Fabian
T J
TJ
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
Dew
M A
MA
Pollock
B G
BG
Reynolds
C F
CF
Mulsant
B H
BH
Butters
M A
MA
Zmuda
M D
MD
Linares
A M
AM
Trottini
M
M
Kroboth
P D
PD
D000368:Aged; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017374:Paroxetine; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D009661:Nortriptyline; D006854:Hydrocortisone