Improvement of extrapyramidal symptoms following dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) administration in antipsychotic treated schizophrenia patients: a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial.
Recent investigation in schizophrenia indicated dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels to be inversely correlated with extrapyramidal symptomatology (EPS). This study thus investigates the effect of DHEA administration on medication-induced EPS. Inpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomized in double-blind fashion to receive either 100 mg DHEA or placebo in addition to a constant dosage of antipsychotic medication. Parkinsonism showed a favorable effect of DHEA with a significant time effect (p < 0.0001), as well as a significant group by time interaction (p < 0.05) and with no change noted on akathisia. Change of DHEA blood levels was negatively associated with change of Parkinsonism (p < 0.05) as well as with change of total EPS ratings (p < 0.05). DHEA appears to demonstrate a significant effect on EPS, with improvement observed particularly in Parkinsonian symptoms.
Nachshoni
Tali
T
Beer Yaakov Mental Health Center, PO Box 1, Beer Yaakov 70350, Israel.
Ebert
Tanya
T
Abramovitch
Yehuda
Y
Assael-Amir
Miriam
M
Kotler
Moshe
M
Maayan
Rachel
R
Weizman
Abraham
A
Strous
Rael D
RD
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone