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

Belinda Garner; Christina Phassouliotis; Lisa J Phillips; Connie Markulev; Felicity Butselaar; Sarah Bendall; Yang Yun; Patrick D McGorry

Journal article

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

Belinda Garner, Christina Phassouliotis, Lisa J Phillips, Connie Markulev, Felicity Butselaar, Sarah Bendall, Yang Yun, Patrick D McGorry

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH | PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD | 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

Sarah Bendall Author Centre for Youth Mental Health

Connie Markulev Author Centre for Youth Mental Health

Patrick McGorry Author Centre for Youth Mental Health

Lisa Phillips Author Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

Christina Phassouliotis Author Centre for Youth Mental Health

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Grants

Awarded by NHMRC

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.