title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gang Memorial Hospital, No. 222 Mai-Chin Road, Keelung, Taiwan 20401, ROC. q56320@yahoo.com.tw
authors.forename: Cheng-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsiao
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride