title: Serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels in schizophrenic patients with different response to antipsychotic therapy: association with psychopathology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies suggested that alterations in serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Imbalance in serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels may be related to responsivity to antipsychotic treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls and to evaluate their association with psychopathology in schizophrenic patients with different response to antipsychotic treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinical prospective study included 60 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy age and sex matched controls. All patients experienced an acute exacerbation of the illness (PANSS: P1 and P3 ≥ 4). Clinical evaluation of patients was performed using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale. A questionnaire for socio-demographic and clinical data collection was used. For the purposes of the study, the examined group was divided in two subgroups: responders and nonresponders. Serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels were measuredat baseline in all participants and after 3 and 6 weeks of the antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with schizophrenia had significantly higher serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels comparedwith control group. Responders had significantly higher serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels compared with nonresponders. Responders group had significant correlation between serum cortisol and PANSS positive scale score as well as between hostility and serum DHEA-S.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Serum cortisol and DHEA-S are associated with psychopathology in schizophrenic patients with different response to antipsychotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Babinkostova
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stefanovski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Janicevic-Ivanovska
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Samardziska
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stojanovska
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D003702:Delusions / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D010258:Paranoid Behavior / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone