An Increased Capacity for Adrenal DHEA Release is Associated with Decreased Avoidance and Negative Mood Symptoms in Women with PTSD
Rasmusson AM, Vasek J, Lipschitz DS, Vojvoda D, Mustone ME, Shi Q, Gudmundsen G, Morgan CA, Wolfe J, Charney DS. An Increased Capacity for Adrenal DHEA Release is Associated with Decreased Avoidance and Negative Mood Symptoms in Women with PTSD. Neuropsychopharmacology 2004, 29: 1546-1557. PMID: 15199367, DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300432.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPost-traumatic stress disorderNegative mood symptomsAdrenal cortisol responsePremenopausal womenMood symptomsPTSD subjectsCortisol responseDHEA releaseAdrenal activationClinician-Administered PTSD Scale scoresChronic post-traumatic stress disorderHPA axis adaptationCorticotropin-releasing factorSeverity of PTSDEndogenous plasma levelsNontraumatized subjectsAdrenal axisDHEAS levelsPlasma levelsAdrenocorticotropic hormonePituitary ACTHProgesterone levelsDHEA responsesHealthy individualsAntiglucocorticoid mifepristone