Movement disorder, memory, psychiatric symptoms and serum DHEA levels in schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients.
OBJECTIVE
Reports of low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or its sulphate (DHEA-S) in some schizophrenic patients and in some persons with poorer motoric and cognitive functioning led us to examine clinical correlates of serum DHEA and DHEA-S levels in schizophrenic patients.


METHODS
Ratings of abnormal movements, memory and psychiatric symptoms in 17 medicated chronic schizophrenic or schizoaffective inpatients at a state hospital were correlated with serum DHEA and DHEA-S levels, and their ratios with serum cortisol.


RESULTS
Controlling for age, higher DHEA levels and/or higher DHEA/cortisol ratios were significantly correlated with lower symptom ratings on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, better performance on some measures of memory, and lower ratings of parkinsonian symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Relatively low DHEA levels or DHEA/cortisol ratios may identify a particularly impaired subgroup of medicated patients with chronic schizophrenia. Potential implications are discussed.
Harris
D S
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Department of Psychiatry, Box CPR-0984, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, 401 Parnassus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA. dharris@itsa.ucsf.edu
Wolkowitz
O M
OM
Reus
V I
VI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000009:adverse effects; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D011187:Posture; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D002746:Chlorpromazine; D006854:Hydrocortisone