Elevated circulatory level of GABA(A)--antagonistic neurosteroids in patients with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a multisystem neurobiological disorder with chronic alterations in various neurochemical systems. Levels of the GABA(A)--antagonistic neurosteroids plasma dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate derivate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) may be relevant to depressive and anxiety disorders, including PTSD.


METHODS
We assessed the circulatory levels of morning plasma DHEA and DHEAS in 21 male outpatients with untreated chronic combat-related PTSD (CR-PTSD), and 18 healthy control male subjects.


RESULTS
Compared with the control subjects, the PTSD patients showed significantly higher plasma DHEA and DHEAS levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic CR-PTSD may be associated with increased circulatory level of neuroactive steroids with inhibitory activity at the GABA(A) receptors. Neurosteroid-induced decreased GABAergic tone may be relevant to the symptomatology and pathophysiology of chronic PTSD, as well as to the frequent co-morbidity of PTSD with depression and anxiety disorders.
Spivak
B
B
Research Unit, Ness Ziona Mental Health Center, Israel.
Maayan
R
R
Kotler
M
M
Mester
R
R
Gil-Ad
I
I
Shtaif
B
B
Weizman
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone