title: Plasma dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate is related to personality and stress response.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) physiologic relevance remains controversial. However, several central nervous system and behavioural effects of DHEAS have been described. We explored the relation between DHEAS and both pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity and personality in human subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 120 consecutive patients assisted at the out patient endocrine department of a public central hospital before medical treatment. Personality was evaluated with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity was assessed with the CRH test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline DHEAS was inversely related to peak/basal cortisol (parcial r=-0.454, p<0.05) response to CRH infusion. DHEAS reactivity in the CRH test was directly related to the Deviant Behaviour triad (BD) (r=0.257, p<0.05) and type A personality (AP) (r=0.295, p<0.05). Basal ACTH was directly related to baseline DHEAS (r=0.366, p<0.001) and together with age and gender explained 34% of DHEAS variability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DHEAS may be a protective factor against an excessive cortisol response when people are under stress situations. Personality may be related to DHEAS reactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Santa Maria Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal. soniavale@net.sapo.pt
authors.forename: Sónia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: do Vale
authors.forename: Joao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin Martins
authors.forename: Maria Joao
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fagundes
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: do Carmo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014434:Type A Personality; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone