Elevated circulatory level of GABA(A)--antagonistic neurosteroids in patients with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder |
| |
Authors: | Spivak B Maayan R Kotler M Mester R Gil-Ad I Shtaif B Weizman A |
| |
Institution: | Research Unit, Ness Ziona Mental Health Center, Israel. |
| |
Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a multisystem neurobiological disorder with chronic alterations in various neurochemical systems. Levels of the GABA(A)--antagonistic neurosteroids plasma dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate derivate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) may be relevant to depressive and anxiety disorders, including PTSD. METHODS: We assessed the circulatory levels of morning plasma DHEA and DHEAS in 21 male outpatients with untreated chronic combat-related PTSD (CR-PTSD), and 18 healthy control male subjects. RESULTS: Compared with the control subjects, the PTSD patients showed significantly higher plasma DHEA and DHEAS levels. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic CR-PTSD may be associated with increased circulatory level of neuroactive steroids with inhibitory activity at the GABA(A) receptors. Neurosteroid-induced decreased GABAergic tone may be relevant to the symptomatology and pathophysiology of chronic PTSD, as well as to the frequent co-morbidity of PTSD with depression and anxiety disorders. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 PubMed 等数据库收录! |
|