Difference in pre- and post-treatment plasma DHEA levels were significantly and positively correlated with difference in pre- and post-treatment Hamilton depression scores following successful therapy for major depression.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical studies of endogenous concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its relation to depression are limited. This study examined whether pre- and post-treatment changes in plasma DHEA levels are correlated with pre- and post-treatment differences in Hamilton depression scores following successful antidepressant therapy for major depression with venlafaxine XR.


METHODS
Thirty-four medication-free major depressive outpatients (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression 17, HAM-D 17 score > or = 17) were treated with antidepressants. At baseline, plasma DHEA levels of all subjects were measured but only those who remitted (HAM-D 17 score < or = 7) before the end of this study had their plasma DHEA levels measured at remission-onset. Blood from subjects was drawn at 0900-1100 h. Depression severity was assessed with the HAM-D 17 scale at baseline, and on day 7, 14, 28, 56 and 84. Subjects were administered at minimum 75 mg/day venlafaxine XR until remission onset.


RESULTS
Fifteen patients remitted before the end of this study. Plasma DHEA levels decreased from baseline to remission was significant (P=0.017). After controlling for age and gender, pre- and post-treatment difference in Hamilton depression scores and the pre- and post-treatment difference in DHEA concentrations were significantly correlated (P=0.044).


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study provides the first clinical evidence identifying that difference in pre- and post-treatment plasma DHEA levels were significantly and positively correlated with difference in pre- and post-treatment Hamilton depression scores following successful therapy with venlafaxine XR for major depression in remitters; but non-remitters were not examined. It is not known if DHEA levels would show similar or dissimilar changes in non-remitters.
Hsiao
Cheng-Cheng
CC
Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gang Memorial Hospital, No. 222 Mai-Chin Road, Keelung, Taiwan 20401, ROC. q56320@yahoo.com.tw
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012074:Remission Induction; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride