Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate levels correlate with symptom severity in first-episode psychosis

B Garner; C Phassouliotis; LJ Phillips; C Markulev; F Butselaar; S Bendall; Y Yun; PD McGorry

Journal article

Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate levels correlate with symptom severity in first-episode psychosis

B Garner, C Phassouliotis, LJ Phillips, C Markulev, F Butselaar, S Bendall, Y Yun, PD McGorry

Journal of Psychiatric Research | Published : 2011

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.06.008

Abstract

Background: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate form (DHEA) are neuroactive steroids with antiglucocorticoid properties. An imbalance in the ratio of cortisol to DHEA(S) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of stress-related psychiatric disorders. This study prospectively investigated circulating cortisol, DHEAS and their ratio in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients compared to healthy controls, and their relationship to perceived stress, psychotic, negative and mood symptoms. Methods: Blood cortisol and DHEAS levels were obtained in 39 neuroleptic-naïve or minimally-treated FEP patients and 25 controls. Twenty-three patients and 15 controls received repeat assessments af..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Christina Phassouliotis Author

Lisa Phillips Author

Connie Markulev Author

Sarah Bendall Author

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Grants

Awarded by National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NHMRC program grant ID 350241 and a NARSAD Young Investigator Award to Dr Garner. Dr Garner is supported by an NHMRC Postdoctoral Training Fellowship. Neither the NHMRC nor NARSAD had a further role in study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.